Change Narratives

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...

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 f...

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:

...

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 fo...

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:

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 somethin...

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) in...

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 pro...

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:

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

Learn more / support...

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

Learn more / Support @soulfoodcypher | soulfoodcypher.com

Follow C...

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 sh...

Welcome to the very first episode of Change Narratives!

In this introduction, hosts Dumebi Okwuosah (Nigeria) and Adi Ramaite (South Africa) share the story behind Change Narratives, a platform born out of the 2025 Mandela Washington Fellowship at Georgia State University.

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. Dumebi and Adi reflect on their journey as fellows, their passion for collaboration, and their hopes for what this platform will grow into. From music...