🎭Stage for Change: UN Women Backs Nigerian Theatre Drive To Rewrite Gender Narratives

IN Abuja, the stage became more than entertainment—it transformed into a platform for activism, empathy, and social change. Through the powerful fusion of music, drama, and dance, “Bunk Talk The Musical” spotlighted some of Nigeria’s most urgent social issues, from gender-based violence to disability inclusion, climate justice, and mental health awareness.

Backed by UN Women and produced by the Girl Child Value Support Initiative (GCVSI), the play turned the boarding school experience into a metaphor for Nigerian society, forcing audiences to confront entrenched cultural norms that silence or marginalise women, girls, and vulnerable groups.

Theatre as a Tool for Advocacy

The play’s producer and GCVSI Executive Director, Precious Wakili, explained why theatre was the medium of choice:

“Drama has the power to transform minds. It can educate, challenge, and inspire. My hope is that everyone who watched this play leaves with a renewed commitment to advocate for women and girls’ rights.”

For Wakili, the performance is deeply personal, rooted in lived experiences that revealed both the resilience of women and the persistence of social injustices.

UN Women’s Endorsement

Speaking at the event, UN Women Programme Officer Ibrahim Nurrudeen reframed the conversation around gender equality.

“The whole essence of gender equality is not about women taking the place of men but about ensuring women and girls enjoy the same rights, dignity, and opportunities. Cultures and traditions are human constructions—they can and must be reshaped to reflect justice.”

He called on Nigerians to embrace feminism as a pathway to a fairer and more inclusive society.

Stories of Struggle and Resilience

Directed by Sola Oyeniyi, the play brought raw, real-life issues into sharp focus: bullying, child marriage, discrimination against persons with albinism, and the silencing of young girls in patriarchal spaces. Yet the narrative was far from bleak—hope, resilience, and possibility pulsed through every act.

“My message is simple: there is hope. No matter what you’ve been through, you can rise above it,” Oyeniyi said.

Broader Impact Beyond the Stage

The performance also served as an educational tool. Owa Zuriel, Programme Manager of GCVSI, stressed that empowering girls has ripple effects beyond individuals.

“When girls are empowered to learn and dream, families, communities, and even nations are transformed. That’s what this play is really about—sparking a shift in perspective that leads to social change.”

The Audience Reaction

The interactive format encouraged audiences not just to watch, but to reflect and question. For many, the takeaway was clear: gender inequality and social exclusion are not distant policy issues but lived realities that demand urgent action.

Why It Matters

In a country where gender-based violence remains widespread, child marriage rates are among the highest in the world, and climate change threatens vulnerable communities, theatre is offering more than catharsis. It’s becoming a civic classroom—a space where stereotypes can be dismantled and new, inclusive narratives imagined.

With UN Women’s support, “Bunk Talk The Musical” may just be the beginning of a wider movement that uses art as both mirror and megaphone to demand justice for Nigeria’s women and girls.