15/07/2025
Women on the frontlines: How Nigerian Women are Leading Grassroots Advocacy for Measles-Rubella Vaccine Rollout
…. Empowering Communities, Mobilising Trust, and Protecting Generations
In a powerful demonstration of grassroots mobilisation, Nigerian women are taking the lead in sensitising communities ahead of the October 2025 rollout of the Measles-Rubella vaccine. Across markets, religious institutions, and community networks, influential women leaders are spearheading efforts to dispel misinformation, raise awareness, and ensure that families embrace this life-saving immunisation—particularly for children between the ages of 9 and 15 years, the primary target group for the Measles-Rubella vaccination.
The Centre for Well-being and Integrated Nutrition Solutions (C-WINS), the organisation at the forefront of this advocacy campaign, has commended the unwavering commitment of prominent women-led groups. These include the Iyaloja-General of Nigeria, Chief Dr. Mujidat Folashade Tinubu-Ojo, the Association of Women in Trade and Agriculture (AWITA), the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations of Nigeria (FOMWAN), the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), the Women Wing of the Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN). Their collective action underscores the pivotal role women play in improving public health outcomes, particularly in culturally sensitive environments where trust is critical.
Guided by the Iyaloja-General, market women’s associations have transformed traditional market places into effective hubs for vaccine education. By leveraging familiar community platforms, these women leaders are ensuring that accurate information reaches community members who might otherwise remain hesitant. Notably, both market women and faith-based women’s organizations have actively participated in advocacy campaigns by using creative visual strategies, such as photo prop frames with supportive messages, widely shared across media platforms to reinforce vaccine confidence in the upcoming Measles-Rubella vaccination.
At a strategic meeting with C-WINS, Tinubu-Ojo applauded the Federal Government for integrating the Measles-Rubella vaccine into the national immunisation schedule, reiterating her commitment to mobilising women traders nationwide. By bridging communication gaps between health officials and grassroots communities, her advocacy has created a ripple effect—one that could ultimately protect millions of children from preventable diseases.
The advocacy drive extends beyond markets. The Association of Women in Trade and Agriculture (AWITA) recently hosted a sensitisation training in Abuja, equipping 35 market leaders with vital advocacy skills to enhance vaccine acceptance. In support of the campaign, AWITA members have also joined public awareness efforts by holding advocacy banners and participating in photo prop frame initiatives that amplify vaccine messaging.
FOMWAN, leveraging its vast religious network, is also mobilising support across states, ensuring that its members—many of whom are key decision-makers in households—become vaccine champions.
C-WINS’ advocacy has extended to the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), a body that represents women’s groups nationwide. During a strategic engagement, NCWS state presidents pledged to collaborate with the Nigerian Governors’ Spouses Forum (NGSF) to drive vaccine uptake at the state level. Their commitment signals a deepening of partnerships that could transform vaccine advocacy into a national movement. At a recent engagement, NCWS leaders also participated in promotional activities, using pictorial advocacy tools, including photo prop frames with the inscription: "I Support Measles-Rubella Vaccination for a Healthier Nigeria!"
Women’s faith-based groups, notably WOWICAN, have joined the advocacy by actively providing their National Executive Committee meeting for sensitization of their members from all over Nigeria. In Ilorin, Kwara State, C-WINS, alongside the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the National Orientation Agency (NOA), engaged faith leaders to reinforce the importance of door-to-door campaigns targeting mothers and caregivers. NOA Kwara State Director, Alhaji Dare AbdulGaniyu, highlighted the dangers of measles and rubella, stressing that only sustained community engagement can counter vaccine hesitancy.
The urgency of these advocacy efforts is underscored by Nigeria’s high measles burden. According to the World Health Organization, measles claimed over 136,000 lives globally in 2022, predominantly affecting unvaccinated children under five. In 2024 alone, 306 Local government areas recorded measles outbreaks. Additionally, Congenital Rubella Syndrome poses significant risks to newborns, causing severe congenital disabilities if mothers contract rubella during pregnancy. In Nigeria, despite advances in immunisation, poor routine immunization coverage for both the first and 2nd doses of measles vaccination at 9 and 15 months, misinformation, and political challenges persist.
However, there is reason for optimism. History has shown that women-led grassroots movements have been instrumental in overcoming vaccine hesitancy, as seen in Nigeria’s Polio Eradication Initiative. C-WINS is now calling for sustained investment in women-led advocacy, urging stakeholders to leverage existing networks and strengthen community trust. The message is clear: when women lead, communities listen. And when communities listen, public health wins.
As the October 2025 vaccine rollout approaches, this coalition of women—market leaders, faith-based groups, and grassroots advocates—stands as a formidable force. Their efforts are not just about vaccines; they are about safeguarding futures, protecting generations, and ensuring that every child, particularly those between the ages of 9 and 15 years, receives this crucial protection against measles and rubella.
