Indi-Genius Podcast

About Indi-Genius Podcast

A podcast series using creative oral storytelling to document and share real-life experiences of grassroots family planning leaders in Nigeria and the Republic of Niger with the aim of facilitating knowledge exchange and highlighting what works and what doesn’t in reproductive health programming.

Publisher

Strong Enough Girls

Category

health & fitness

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

11 Jul 2022

Latest episode

26 Oct 2025

Latest episodes

39 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   26 Oct 2025

   Becoming a Big Girl: My First Period Story

   In this episode of the Indi-Genius Podcast, Fatima reminds us that every girl’s body grows at its own pace and that menstruation should never be a source of shame, confusion, or stigma. From being told “it’s a big girl’s thing” to being teased for something she didn’t yet understand, Fatima’s story shows why accurate information and supportive conversations at home and in school are essential for girls to feel confident in their bodies. English Transcript: Hello and welcome to season two of the Indi-Genius Podcast for Sexual and Reproductive Health,  a platform where young voices share real stories about sexual and reproductive health in our communities. I am your host, Queen Ugwoeru, and today  we are joined by one of our Indi-Genius champions from Abuja.  Please join me in welcoming Fatima Sani. A young person who is making a difference in her community.  Fatima,  the mic is yours. On the morning assembly and with the students trying to meet up at the assembly. But on just like every other Fridays, something happened this particular Friday where we being mentored on menstruation. So as at then I did not really feel there was a need for me to learn. But after then when I got into my SS1, I had friends that I've already started seeing their period. I was like, oh, I wanted to learn then but they were not really making me feel that comfortable.  So there was this girl called Glory, she was in my class  and  I met her a day, me and my friends.  So she was crying. When we asked her what was the issue, she was like, she was having cramps.  And I was like, what was cramps? Because I had no idea then. Actually my friends understood but I didn't so when I asked my friends they like it's a big girl's stuff that I'm not supposed to know. I was pained at that moment but looking at the fact that I'm not even their mate, I'm way older than them but they are like it's a big girl's stuff. It made me feel very very very very very bad. So I was in the mind that I will surely start seeing my period. During the second term, I actually started seeing my period. I saw it in the shop. It came in the shop. A guy told me that I was stinking. I was like, stinking. Why would I be stinking? I was actually small. So he said I should check. When I checked, I was like, yay. Like it has finally come. I was very happy then. I was very, very, very happy. But when I told my mom, she was a little bit disheartened. I am not supposed to start saying anything that I am still small but I was very happy because yes finally I now belong to my friends. When I told them they were like uh-uh you are now a big girl and stuff like that so I was having that impression So my advice to young minds is just that if you did not see your period on time just calm down there is nothing there. There is no big deal when the time comes, it will come that's what I said thank you Thank you Fatima for sharing your story. It shows us that when parents talk openly about menstruation,  girls grow up feeling prepared, confident and empowered. Whether you're listening from a city, village or anywhere in the world, your voice matters. And just like our champion,  you too can make a difference in advancing sexual and reproductive health for young people. This has been another episode of the Indigenous Podcast brought to you by Strong Enough Girls Empowerment Initiative  and made possible by the support from the core group. The future soundtrack is by Advanced Universe. Do not miss any episode. Subscribe to us on Apple Podcasts, Google, Spotify, Anchor, or wherever you get your podcasts from.  And don't forget to turn on the notifications.  And if you liked today's episode,  please like, rate, review, download, or share.  You can also follow us on Instagram at indigenious underscore podcast.  Until next time,  stay bold and keep using your voice.  Bye.

2. 

   19 Oct 2025

   My First Period and Why Access to SRHR Information Matters

   Many girls feel left behind when their bodies don’t develop as fast as their peers’. In this honest and relatable story, Queen Kolawole shares how she longed to “join the circle” of girls who had started menstruating, and what it felt like to finally get her first period. With the right support from her mum and access to menstrual products, her experience was empowering—not shameful. My name is Queen Kolawole, and this story is about a time when I finally joined “the circle.” Many girls my age had begun to see their period. You would know because they talked about it in their circle, a top-class circle you most likely would feel left out of if you hadn’t started. “Can you borrow me your sweater… I’m stained?” “The pain was this and that.” I wanted to feel that pain too, so I could feel among and be able to talk about how excruciating the pain was for me also. I felt like my growth was delayed. My breasts were still as flat as a board. Sometimes I’d stand in front of the mirror and wonder, “Is something wrong with me?” Everyone else seemed to be growing, and I felt like I was being left behind. It made me feel… small. Like my body was betraying me. Once in a while, I’d wear my mum’s bra just to see how it would feel like to have my ‘oranges’ fill it up , but nothing. Just loose space. Annoying. I was in school the day I finally felt my period. It was around closing time, and I just knew something was different that day. I didn’t have any excruciating pain as I’d imagined. It was very mild and could have passed for something else, but because I was so ready to welcome my period, I prayed it was it. As soon as I got home, I rushed into the toilet. I had to see for myself. I wasn’t wrong. Boy, was I excited! I immediately went to tell my mum. She would know what to do next. “Mummy! Mummy! I have started my period.” I felt so proud, like I had finally been inaugurated into the supreme circle. She taught me how to use a sanitary pad and how to care for myself during menstruation. The rest, they say, is history. Now, I know everyone’s experience with their period is different, and that’s okay. Some have pain, some don’t. Some love pads, others explore cups. What matters is that we have choices, and we listen to our bodies.. And I hope everyone feels just as empowered to find what works for them. Now, looking back, I feel lucky. Lucky that I had access to the right information and the right menstrual products when my period started. Not every girl gets that chance. Some still use pieces of cloth, others hide their periods in shame, and many miss school because they can’t afford pads. It shouldn’t be this way. Every girl deserves to menstruate with dignity, with the right knowledge, support, and products. That’s why I’m sharing this story. Because periods are normal, and no girl should suffer for something so natural.

3. 

   10 Oct 2025

   Fertility Scare at 20-Something

   When young Hope’s period was delayed and intense pain followed, she feared the worst, that her past ovarian cyst had returned and could stop her from ever becoming a mother. Her story highlights the confusion many young people face around fertility, and reminds us that reproductive health issues are real, but treatable, and you are never alone. English Transcript My name is Mngunongun Hope Jeremiah. This is my Story. It was on a Saturday morning. I woke up, cleaned the house, washed my clothes, cooked for the week, I went to the market and just went about my business for the day. However, in the middle of the day, I noticed that I was experiencing excruciating pains in my lower abdomen but I brushed it off. Maybe it was just stress from all the chores I have done. But 3 days passed my menstrual cycle and my period didn't come. I was confused but remembered that, a year prior to this day, I have had the same encounter where my period was delayed and I was given a diagnosis of an ovarian cyst. Upon this realization, I rushed to the bathroom to have my bath. I hurriedly dressed up and went to the road side to get a ride. I got a bikeman and inquired from him to help me locate a good imagining center because I needed to do a scan to ascertain my faith. I was new in Lafia as of then and didn't actually know my way around that much. The bikeman took me and on our way , he was gisting me about how his wife was once pregnant with twins and he took her to this imagining center for scan and the man was good. He dropped me at the center and I remember walking into the waiting room, crowded with pregnant women and other patients, waiting for their results. I went in, registered my name and sat there nervously waiting for mine after being attended to. At this moment, so many thoughts were running through my mind-Look at this multiple women here with their own pregnancies and their other children here. If it is this same ovarian cyst, what will I do?. In my lost thoughts, the radiologist came out with my results and there came the diagnosis: ovarian cyst. My heart jumped but I controlled myself and I asked the radiologist, will this affect my fertility?. Then came the whisper; "You are not menstruating so how will you get pregnant and have children?" I remember panicking about my fertility status as I rushed home and immediately reached out to a friend who is a Doctor for clarity. I narrated my ordeal to him and he suggested I retake the scan after treatment. I repeated the scan twice! after my treatment at every menstrual cycle. Yes! just to be sure and was told it has cleared. That 2nd scan, I sent the results to this my friend so he could take a look at it just to clear my burning heart as when it happened earlier, I was completely in a mess, lost in my thoughts while crying in my room before I called him then. When he saw the scan result I sent, he laughed and said: "You're just a healthy lady with matured eggs waiting for fertilization. If you want, you can have as many children as possible. Don't let Dr. A. see you on the streets oo if not they'll ask you to donate your eggs to those seeking for eggs for IVF. To every woman out there listening to my voice now, if you're battling with an ovarian cyst or are going through some reproductive health challenges that may or is affecting your fertility, you're not alone, there are a lot of other women such as yourself out there battling with these things. Be patient with yourself and endeavor to seek the help of doctors as they'll give their best to help you. And remember that, with or without a child, that's not all to life.

Who has been a guest on Indi-Genius Podcast

Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.

• Joan Hassan
• Junaid
• Oluwadunsin
• Annabel
• Felicity Ike

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

1 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 15 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

30

Social presence

0

YouTube

0

Engagement

0

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Books guests

Based on episode analysis; this does not confirm that the show is currently accepting guests.