Explore every episode of the podcast Change Narratives

If school helped shape what you believe about your intelligence, can you change that story as an adult?

In Part 2 of our conversation with Asher Kure, we move from the classroom to the learner, the teacher and the education system around them.

Asher explains how the brain continues to learn, why practice matters for mastery and why different people may need different routes into learning.

We talk about reading, listening, observation, memorisation, asking questions and research, and why the right learning strategy depends on both the person and what they are trying to achieve.

Then we widen the conversation.

Because education as a social unit is bigger than the learner.

It includes teachers, schools, training institutions, curriculum, resources and governments.

So how much responsibility can we place on learners when schools are underfunded, teachers are unsupported or the right learning materials are not available?

Asher talks about government responsibility, teacher education in Nigeria, colleges of education and why learners should be taught how their brains work instead of simply being expected to figure it out.

This is a conversation about learning, but also about the systems that shape it.

And for anyone who spent years believing they simply were not good at school, the message is simple:

You can learn again.

This season of Change Narratives looks at the social units that shape people: families, communities, institutions, environments and experiences.

Education is one of the biggest.

For many of us, school is where we first start deciding whether we are smart, slow, academic, creative or simply “not good at learning.”

But what happens when those conclusions are wrong?

In Part 1 of our conversation with researcher, educator and author Asher Kure, we explore the experiences that made him question some of our most familiar assumptions about intelligence and learning.

Asher tells the story of a student who struggled badly in class, but outside school could play a sophisticated PlayStation game so well that his older brother struggled to beat him.

The child could clearly learn.

So what was really going on?

From that question, we get into learning habits, behaviour, memory, the methods high-performing learners use and the classroom experiment that helped students learn from their peers.

We also talk about Mind Palaces, memory triggers and why Asher believes learning itself should sit at the centre of education.

This conversation is not only about how people learn.

It is about how an institution like school can shape what people believe about themselves long after they leave the classroom.

What if you were never bad at learning?

Nigeria is 66 today.

And somehow, October is here too.🎊🎊🎊

So we thought we would check in.

How are you actually feeling about Nigeria right now?

There is a lot that is frustrating. There is a lot that is tiring. But there are also people doing good work, things that are moving, and reasons to still hope for better.

Eddie said maybe this should be a reflective year, and that probably sums up this conversation best.

Today gives a real chance to think about where we are, what is getting better, what still needs work, and what we want to see change.

So as we start a new month and mark 66 years of Nigeria:

What are you hopeful about?

Happy Independence Day 🇳🇬

Happy new month!❤️

September is here, and everyone is talking about locking in for the final stretch of the year.

But what if locking in didn’t have to mean doing everything alone?

In this short bonus episode, we reflect on one of the biggest ideas from our recent conversation with Precious Ebere-Chinonso Obi: the role friendship and professional networks can play in helping us build, create opportunities and make an impact.

We also look back at what we learned about working with donors without losing sight of your mission, and give a little preview of what’s coming next on Change Narratives as we turn to another social unit that shapes a changemaker: education.

If you haven’t listened to Parts 1, 2 and 3 of our conversation with Precious, this is a good time to catch up.

And as we head into the last few months of the year, here’s the question we’re thinking about:

What are you locking in to build — and who are you building it with?

Follow and subscribe to Change Narratives so you don’t miss the next conversation.

Every organisation talks about scaling. Few talk honestly about what it takes.

In Part 3, Precious Ebere-Chinonso Obi shares how DO Take Action has expanded its work across multiple donors while staying true to its mission. We discuss flexibility, innovation, procurement, trade, policy, and why solving real problems is what earns long-term support.

The conversation ends with Precious's vision for the future of DO Take Action and the practical steps needed to create opportunities for women at scale.

What if women aren't being held back by ambition, but by systems that weren't designed with them in mind?

In Part 2 of our conversation with Precious Ebere-Chinonso Obi, Co-Founder and Chief Executive of DO Take Action, we explore what justice really looks like in practice.

From care justice and gender pay to programme design and digital learning, Precious shares how DO Take Action has built its work around the realities women face every day, not assumptions about what they need.

We also discuss why listening comes before designing solutions, how research shaped every stage of their programmes, and why a hybrid learning model helped more women access training and continue learning beyond the classroom.

Whether you work in development, policy, or social impact—or you're simply interested in building better systems—this episode offers practical lessons on creating solutions that put people first.

Are we getting women’s economic empowerment wrong?

It’s a question that stopped me in my tracks during this conversation.

When we say we’re empowering women, what do we really mean? Is it grants? Skills training? Startup kits? Or have we been overlooking the opportunities that create lasting economic change?

In Part 1 of this conversation, I sit down with my friend Precious Ebere-Chinonso Obi, Executive Director of DO Take Action, to unpack why she believes procurement is one of the most overlooked pathways to women’s economic empowerment.

Drawing on her work with UN Women and partners across Nigeria, Senegal, Mali, and Côte d’Ivoire, Precious shares how research challenged her own assumptions and led her to rethink what empowerment should look like. We talk about why women contribute so much to our economies yet remain largely excluded from procurement opportunities, the myths that continue to hold women back, and why changing systems requires more than training women—it also means working with policymakers and the institutions that shape opportunity.

She also shares one of my favourite stories from the episode: how a facilitator from one of their earliest training programmes eventually became a Director General and is now helping champion women’s participation in procurement at the national level. It’s a reminder that when people believe in a vision, change has a way of coming full circle.

This isn’t just a conversation about procurement. It’s a conversation about questioning assumptions, challenging systems, and creating opportunities that last.

Watch Part 1 and let me know what resonated with you.

Follow Change Narratives for more conversations with people changing systems across Africa.

🌍 www.changenarratives.org 🔗 https://linktr.ee/changenarratives25

#ChangeNarratives #WomensEconomicEmpowerment #Procurement #PublicPolicy #SocialImpact #Leadership #Africa #DOTakeAction

In this final part of the conversation, Sampson Kofi Adotey Jr. reflects on how his journey translates into impact.

He discusses his work across global health, policy, and storytelling, including contributions to policy shifts and initiatives across multiple countries. He also shares his approach to learning, emphasizing the importance of responding to need rather than pursuing qualifications for their own sake.

Through personal experiences and professional insights, this episode explores how becoming is shaped over time, and how that process leads to meaningful impact.

At the centre of the conversation is a simple but important question: What is your story?

This is Part 3 of a three-part conversation. Follow us on our platforms and feel free to like, comment, and repost:

https://linktr.ee/changenarratives25?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029VbBIWTrCXC3SK2yfbB0E

www.changenarratives.org

Season 2: The Making of a Changemaker

In this episode, Sampson Kofi Adotey Jr. and Sampson Kofi Adotey Sr. reflect on the values, mindset, and experiences that shape a person over time.

They discuss the balance between guidance and independence, the importance of allowing individuals to chart their own course, and how early exposure and lived experiences influence decision-making.

Through personal stories, this conversation highlights how mindset is formed not only through instruction, but through freedom, responsibility, and experience.

This is Part 2 of a three-part conversation.

Season 2: The Making of a Changemaker

What shapes the path a person eventually takes?

In this opening episode of Season 2, we focus on Sampson Kofi Adotey Jr. and the early influences that shaped his journey. From the environments he grew up in to the values he absorbed over time, this conversation explores how a sense of purpose begins to form long before it is visible to the world.

Alongside him is his father, Sampson Kofi Adotey Sr., whose life and work offer important context to that journey. Together, their story reflects on legacy, exposure, and the quiet ways influence is passed from one generation to another.

This is Part 1 of a broader conversation on what it truly means to become.

Season 2: The Making of a Changemaker

In this episode, the team talks honestly about what the work looks like from week to week.

They talk about how they start with needs assessments, why they build “rules of engagement” instead of strict rules, and how affirmations slowly help the shy girls speak up. You will also hear the story of a girl who struggled with anger and how a simple side conversation helped her feel understood for the first time.

The team also explains how they choose the girls, why they lose some to early marriage, and how each kit is tailored — from sewing tools to baking apprenticeships to Canva Pro subscriptions for girls who want to do more digital work.

They share how volunteers switch between English and Hausa to make learning easier, how partners step in when budgets are tight, and why follow-up after graduation matters just as much as the classes.

It is thoughtful, real work — nothing rushed, nothing performative.

If you want to support them or just send encouragement, find them on Instagram: @risewithwingsinitiative. And follow us at @changenarratives_ for more stories like this.

#ChangeNarratives #WINGS #GirlsInIDPCamps #RealStories

Part One focuses on how WINGS started and why the team chose to work with girls in IDP camps.

Tomi, Wadi, and Olumide discuss their personal experiences growing up, the connection to the stories of these girls and women, and the desire they felt to effect change. They also discuss how years of volunteering eventually evolved into what WINGS is today.

You will hear:

– The experiences that shaped their “why”

– How their friendship became a foundation for the work

– Their first interactions with the camp

– Why they decided to focus on girls specifically

Part One is the beginning. Part Two takes you into the actual program and what the girls are learning, so stay tuned.

You can follow us across our different channels: https://linktr.ee/changenarratives25?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

Also, find more information on the WINGS Initiative here:

YouTube: https://m.youtube.com/@wingsinitiative-j4t?fbclid=PAZnRzaAOEVDpleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBzcnRjBmFwcF9pZA8xMjQwMjQ1NzQyODc0MTQAAad6IT9RT9QgVtXp_dAoT3xivHwSirvSCq3L2hSzjtB0cUyQGwXPnjCJ3PaACA_aem_2WMrNqHPqb-ft9qHgaZDAA

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/risewithwingsinitiativenigeria/

What if real reform begins with reflection?

this episode of Change Narratives, Victor Adejoh, Country Director at Synergos Nigeria, shares how self-awareness, deep listening, and empathy can transform not just leaders but the systems they shape. Through his work in agriculture and governance, Victor explains how inner work leads to outer change: from nature-based leadership practices and journaling, to policy reforms and using data to drive smarter government action. He also unpacks what it means to be a courageous leader — one who accepts failure, practices humility, and builds bridges across divides. In this conversation, we explore:

1. How nature and reflection build trust and authenticity

2. The role of data and empathy in reforming systems

3.What “bridging leadership” really means in practice

4. Why collaboration, not competition, drives lasting change

5. Lessons for young Africans shaping the future of leadership

🎧 Listen if you care about change-making, leadership, and building systems people can trust.

Learn more about Synergos: https://www.synergos.org

🔗 Follow Victor on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/victor-a-05344a142?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app 🎥 Watch Part 1 of this conversation and Explore more stories at https://linktr.ee/changenarratives25?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

#ChangeNarratives #VictorAdejoh #BridgingLeadership #SystemsChange #AuthenticLeadership #SynergosNigeria #InnerWorkForChange #FromReflectionToReforms #AfricanLeadership #Changemaking #LeadershipDevelopment #GovernanceReform #PublicPolicy #DataForDevelopment

What does it really take to build systems people can trust?

In this conversation, Victor Adejoh, clinical psychologist and Country Director of Synergos Nigeria, breaks it down not through theories, but through lived experience.

We talk about the quiet work behind real leadership: listening, empathy, and the courage to see yourself as part of both the problem and the solution.

This episode goes inside the Synergos approach to bridging leadership — a way of working that builds trust across governments, communities, and organizations.

Victor shares stories of how play became a tool for connection, how self-awareness shapes policy, and why leaders need to do their inner work before they can lead others.

In this episode:

• Why play, not pressure, sometimes unlocks the real work

• How empathy and compassion make better policies

• What “bridging leadership” looks like in practice

• Why every leader — no matter where they sit — needs to do the inner work first

#ChangeNarratives #VictorAdejoh #Synergos #TrustIsInfrastructure #BridgingLeadership #Empathy #Leadership #SystemsChange #Nigeria #Community #InnerWork #AfricaStories #InclusiveDevelopment

This week, we took a breath. We’ve been filming, editing, re-editing, and dreaming up new ways to tell real stories, and it felt right to pause and look at how far we’ve come. From August till now, Change Narratives has grown into a small but mighty community, and I just wanted to say thank you.

In this episode, I walk you through where we started, what’s live now, and what’s coming next:

1. The launch of our website and blog (yep, finally live!)
2. A look back at past episodes: Alex Acosta — founder of Soul Food Cypher, on how hip-hop heals and builds community. Noel Mushinzimana — on climate, peace, and youth as agents of change. Onyedika Nwadukwe — on identity, authenticity, and the courage to show up. Ubah Thomas Ubah — on leadership, social protection, and doing the inner work behind big systems.
3. And a preview of our next guest, Mr. Victor Adejoh, Country Director at Synergos Nigeria, who talks about empathy, self-awareness, and the power of bridging leadership. It’s been humbling to watch this project grow, from two mics and an idea to a platform that connects people, systems, and stories.
4. 💡 New here? Subscribe and follow us on all our channels: https://linktr.ee/changenarratives25?utm_source=linktree_profile_sharewww.changenarratives.org
5. Read our first blog post, Send in your own story or field reflection, Join our newsletter community Thank you for watching, listening, and building with us. This is Change Narratives — refining systems, reclaiming voices, reshaping Africa. #ChangeNarratives #AfricanStorytelling #StorytellingForChange #LeadershipInAfrica #SocialImpact #SystemsChange #RefiningSystems #ReclaimingVoices #ReshapingAfrica #PodcastReflection #BehindTheScenes #SynergosNigeria #BridgingLeadership #EmpathyInLeadership #CommunityDevelopment #InnerWork #HumanSideOfPolicy #DevelopmentStories #AfricanChangemakers

In this final part of our conversation, Ubah Thomas Ubah reflects on what makes social impact last. We go beyond policies and systems to talk about sustainability, financing, and the foundations that outlive any single project — the social registry, digital payments, and long-term government commitment.

But we also get personal: Ubah opens up about what keeps him going outside of work — mentoring young people, supporting displaced girls through WINGS, and why education and skills remain his most powerful tools for change. We even learn about his love for dancing and his view of “good social impact” as something everyone gets to win from.

This isn’t just a policy conversation — it’s a reminder that systems are only as strong as the people behind them.

Watch/Listen now on:

YouTube: https://youtube.com/@changenarratives?si=WFWMxuk8yuexqgVN

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2dxCDVEtRXkeycOhH0oVDf?si=YXxMI1NLTJGSP8qk9pVZsg

Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/ng/podcast/change-narratives/id1836270269

#ChangeNarratives #PodcastAfrica #AfricaPodcast #SocialImpactStories #SocialProtection #InclusiveSystems #DigitalPayments #PeopleFirst #StorytellingForChange #TrustworthySystems #WorldBank

We often discuss delivery, but what does it truly mean to transition from identifying people in need to actually reaching them? In this part, Ubah takes us through how trust is built not by owning every piece of the puzzle, but by connecting the right people, aligning their different interests, and keeping the process flexible when the straight-line plan doesn’t work.

From Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus Program for Nigeria (NG-CARES) to Nigeria's National Social Safety Net Program Scale-Up (NASSP-SU), he breaks down how cash transfers, the social registry, and National Identification Numbers (NIN) integration come together, why data matters more than anything else, and how even the best systems fail if the personalities behind them can’t work together.

This isn’t theory, it’s the story of what it takes to make safety nets real for millions of households.

🎧 Listen on YouTube, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts via Linktree: https://linktr.ee/changenarratives25?utm_source=linktree_profile_share

Creating sustainable impact is never straightforward. It’s about understanding vested interests, building trust, and leading with humility.

In Part 1 of our conversation, Ubah Thomas Ubah (Senior Social Protection Specialist, World Bank) shares how change really happens — not by imposing solutions, but by putting people first.

In this episode you’ll hear:

1. How vested interests quietly shape decisions and outcomes

2. Why humility and emotional intelligence often matter more than expertise

3. What “people first” means in practice when designing programs that last

4. How human-centered design connects technology with social protection for real results

Ubah reminds us that sustainable impact doesn’t begin in polished strategies or reports — it begins by listening, learning, and meeting people where they are.

Part 1 out now.

🎧 Watch on YouTube | Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

#ChangeNarratives #SocialImpact #SustainableDevelopment #InclusiveDevelopment #HumanCenteredDesign #SocialProtection #Leadership #PeopleFirst #WorldBank #AfricaDevelopment #nigeria

You’re listening to Change Narratives. Today we’re sharing something a little different — a reflective piece from one of our own, Onyedika, about his very first time stepping into a development policy space. It’s raw, honest, and exactly why we do this work.

This bonus episode takes you behind the scenes of that first-time experience — the nerves, the sense of purpose, and the questions that stick with you long after the event ends. Onyedika opens up about:

• Meeting peers who are turning passion into projects.
• The “Japa” conversation and what it means for skills, purpose, and youth readiness.
• How social media can be a tool for real participation.
• Why AI and data ethics matter for young people stepping into governance spaces.
• And the biggest lesson: showing up, listening, and telling stories is the first step to change.

🎧 Available now on YouTube, Spotify, and Apple Podcasts.

#ChangeNarratives #ReflectivePieces #YouthVoices #InclusiveDevelopment #GS25 #Storytelling

What does post-conflict development really look like when youth lead the way?

Meet Noel Mushinzimana, a bold new voice for pan-African solidarity. He shares how mentorship, green innovation, inclusive policy, and cross-continental partnerships are shaping a new African story—all rooted in peace. Tune in to hear how Rwanda’s approach is setting a new bar for development across Africa.

Please Like, Share, and Subscribe for more amazing, innovative impact stories across Africa and different continents!

Part 2 with Alex Cole Acosta dives into hip hop’s staying power, how to build value and community in a “post-social media” era, and why cyphers—rooted in respect, responsibility, and knowledge—can travel from Atlanta to Lagos, Joburg, and Nairobi. We talk playlists, third spaces, pandemic resilience, AI and authenticity, and practical advice for hosting inclusive cyphers.

Highlights

• Culture > genre: why hip hop keeps evolving
• From scarcity to surplus: finding value together
• The cypher’s core values: respect • responsibility • knowledge
• Creative place-keeping vs. place-making
• AI as tool, not soul: why policy matters
• Pan-African bridges: circles with no hierarchy

Learn more / support: @soulfoodcypher | soulfoodcypher.com

Follow Change Narratives on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, LinkedIn & Instagram.

In Part 1, Alex Cole Acosta (Founder, Soul Food Cypher) takes us inside the cypher—how freestyle rap became a space for healing, education, and community in Atlanta. We talk fathers and kids sharing stages, rebuilding “third spaces,” and how this living oral tradition can translate across African cities—from Lagos to Joburg and Nairobi—rooted in local rhythms and languages.

Highlights

• The moment the cypher became a tool for healing
• Why consistent, safe spaces matter for youth and adults
• Passing culture across generations
• Building chapters in Africa grounded in local sound

Learn more / Support @soulfoodcypher | soulfoodcypher.com

Follow Change Narratives on LinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook, Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

In this special episode of Change Narratives, Dumebi introduces Alex Cole Acosta, founder of Soul Food Cypher—an Atlanta nonprofit using freestyle rap to heal, educate, and empower communities.

Born from a love of hip hop and community, Soul Food Cypher showcases the positive side of rap, turning it into a tool for literacy, leadership, and connection. Alex’s story isn’t just about Atlanta—it sparks a bigger question: what would it look like to bring this innovation home to Africa’s vibrant music scene?

At Change Narratives, we spotlight the ideas, people, and stories shaping Africa’s journey to development. This is one of them.

Follow us on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook to stay part of the conversation.

Welcome to the very first episode of Change Narratives!

In this introduction, host Dumebi Okwuosah (Nigeria) collaborates with Adi Ramaite (South Africa) on the first episode for Change Narratives.

This episode is a candid conversation about why this podcast exists: to tell real stories about Africa’s development — beyond headlines and statistics — through the voices of the people driving change. From music that connects us across borders to the projects and innovations shaping Africa’s future, this is where authentic conversations begin.

Tune in as they set the stage for a season full of inspiring guests, bold ideas, and stories that refine systems, reclaim voices, and reshape Africa.