Goalkeepers is a global collective of collaborative and diverse changemakers. Members include both emerging and well-known leaders who live all over the world and represent an eclectic range of cultures, professions, and interests.
As a community, they are committed to achieving the 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development, an ambitious blueprint for reimagining a better future for all by 2030, agreed upon by all member states of the United Nations. As individuals, Goalkeepers are developing fresh ideas and doing innovative work to accelerate the progress across the goals in their regions.
The Foundation hosted a Nigeria Goalkeepers community mixer in Abuja on January 30 to conduct a pulse check on our commitments, re-strategize on emerging priorities, and strengthen collaboration.
At the event, Uche Amaonwu, Nigeria’s Country Director for the Gates Foundation, emphasized the power of collective action. He said, “Building and cultivating a community of problem solvers and individuals is key to driving sustainable progress.” He stressed that in a rapidly changing world, resilience and collaboration are essential for lasting impact.
Participants tackled urgent issues including high inflation, rising mortality rates, and persistent barriers to development. For Carolyn Seaman, Founder of Girls Voice Initiative, the Gatekeepers’ platform has been transformative. “It has completely revolutionized how I work. It’s about that renewed consciousness—being more responsible and more vocal.”
The event reinforced the power of community-driven action. Babafunke Fagbemi from the Center for Communication and Social Impact captured this spirit: “My dream is to start thinking in community and stop thinking as an individual.”
With determined leaders and committed stakeholders driving progress, Nigeria’s journey toward achieving the Global Goals for Sustainable Development is gaining unstoppable momentum, proving that collaboration, resilience, and innovation can transform the future.
Family Health
Childbirth Spacing: Empowering Choices for a Healthier Future
Childbirth spacing is transforming lives in Kano, empowering women with knowledge, access, and choices for a healthier future. Through innovative community outreach, women are gaining greater control over their reproductive health, improving their well-being, and enhancing economic stability. Gambo Musa, the Family Planning Focal Person in Kano, shares how strategic interventions, including the deployment of 480 community actors, are bridging gaps in access and increasing awareness like never before.
“I coordinate family planning activities across the 44 LGAs and primary healthcare centers (PHCs) of the state. In the past years, demand ratios and creating awareness in the communities were not as much as now.
“We have 480 community actors- across our communities that are going round house to house to educate women and encourage and inform them of the advantages of taking family planning services. Because of this, women are now taking family planning services in a very huge number.
“We have started filling the gaps of unmet needs in our hard-to-reach communities. Because some women will not be able to come to the facility. Now the services have been taken to their doorsteps.
Family planning or child spacing is changing the lives of women, especially on the economic side. It’s also boosting their health, their children have enough time for breastfeeding, and they also have enough time for their husbands and the household generally”.
With the rapid rise in family planning uptake, Kano is witnessing a remarkable shift in reproductive health decisions. The surge in Depo-Medroxyprogesterone Acetate Subcutaneous (DMPA-SC) self-injection contraceptives—from just 373 users in July 2022 to 22,732 by December 2024—demonstrates the growing demand for accessible and convenient options. As childbirth spacing continues to empower women, it paves the way for healthier families, stronger communities, and a brighter future for all.
Agriculture
Nigeria’s Farmers Will Gain from Swift Commercialization of TELA Maize
Photo: Dr. Rose Gidado, Director, Agricultural Biotechnology Department at the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA) at the agency’s TELA Maize Demonstration Plot for Refuge Monitoring, February 2025
The rapid deregulation and commercialization of TELA maize in Nigeria marks a major milestone in agricultural biotechnology. Years of research, regulatory advancements, and strategic advocacy have made this progress possible.
Over 300 million people in Africa rely on maize, making drought and pest resilience critical for food security. Widespread adoption will enhance agricultural productivity, reduce food imports, and create economic opportunities for farmers. Nigerian farmers will benefit from TELA maize, a drought-tolerant and insect-resistant crop that delivers higher yields and reduces pesticide use. TELA maize offers a 17 percent yield increase while reducing pesticide applications, making it both economically and environmentally sustainable.
Four genetically modified crops undergoing field trials in Nigeria include nitrogen-use, water-use, and salt-tolerant (NEWEST) rice, TELA maize, virus-resistant cassava (VIRCA) Plus, and herbicide-tolerant soybeans.
Sustained advocacy and collaboration among government agencies, research institutions, and international partners have driven the commercialization of TELA maize. The Gates Foundation played a key role in supporting communication and public engagement. “In terms of advocacy, the Gates Foundation has really supported us,” said Dr. Rose Gidado, Director of the Agricultural Biotechnology Department at the National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA). “They helped us communicate the science behind biotechnology, ensuring public acceptance and uptake were not negatively affected.”
The National Biotechnology Research and Development Agency (NBRDA), established in 2001, promotes agricultural biotechnology to enhance food security, sustainability, and economic growth.
TELA maize has undergone environmental release and now awaits national performance trials on farmers’ fields. This step is essential for approval by the National Varietal Release Committee (NVRC), ensuring new seeds provide farmers with clear advantages. “Farmers are practical people,” Dr. Gidado stated. “If a new variety doesn’t outperform what they’re already using, they won’t adopt it. That’s why we conduct field trials in multiple states, demonstrating real benefits.”
The Open Forum on Agricultural Biotechnology (OFAB), launched in Nigeria in 2009 with Gates Foundation support, bridged the gap between biotechnology and traditional agricultural institutions. “We facilitated the bill at the National Assembly, got it passed, and secured President Jonathan’s signature in 2015, leading to the establishment of the National Biosafety Management Agency (NBMA),” Dr. Gidado said. “Without NBMA, commercialization would not be possible. This is a collaborative project with funding from the Gates Foundation, USAID, and AATF, which have provided critical technical assistance and capacity building.”
The passage of the Biosafety Act led to three major achievements: stronger collaboration among agencies, the establishment of the National Biosafety Management Act, and most importantly, the successful commercialization of biotechnology in Nigeria.