The British Deputy High Commission has partnered with ASIRI Magazine to launch “HerStory of Nigeria: Women, Power and Protest in Lagos (1910–1950)” as part of activities commemorating International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026.
The project, scheduled for formal unveiling on March 9 in Lagos, aims to spotlight the often-overlooked contributions of women in shaping Nigeria’s socio-political landscape between 1910 and 1950. Organisers say the initiative situates local women’s resistance and activism within the broader Commonwealth narrative of agency, protest and social transformation.
As part of the programme, a flagship event will hold on March 13 at Queen’s College, Lagos, where secondary school students will engage with women’s history through guided storytelling sessions, illustrated educational materials, historical portrait sketches and interactive discussions.
According to the organisers, the initiative underscores ASIRI Magazine’s commitment to preserving Nigeria’s cultural heritage while restoring women to the centre of the country’s historical narrative.
Founded in 2013, ASIRI Magazine has evolved into one of Nigeria’s largest digital repositories of rare historical photographs and narratives. The platform has led several public history campaigns, transforming archival materials into accessible and engaging storytelling formats for global audiences.
The “HerStory of Nigeria” project adopts a hybrid model, blending physical school engagements with a 15-day digital advocacy campaign. The online campaign, to run across ASIRI’s platforms, will amplify stories shared during school visits through illustrated history posts, educational threads, short features and archival highlights.
Project Director and Founder of ASIRI Magazine, Oludamola Adebowale, described the initiative as positioning history as a tool for advocacy and social change.
“HerStory of Nigeria challenges historical erasure, promotes gender visibility and inspires confidence, civic consciousness and leadership among young girls,” he said.
He added that the IWD 2026 initiative bridges global gender equity conversations with deeply rooted Nigerian historical narratives, reinforcing history as a living resource for identity, empowerment and national memory.
Other partners supporting the project include Zapphaire Events, HIS Nigeria, BellaNaija and Lanre Shasore.
Adebowale, an archivist, historian and curator, is an Associate Fellow of the Royal Historical Society (UK) and a member of the International Council on Archives. Through ASIRI Magazine, he has spearheaded exhibitions, produced historical media content and developed educational tools aimed at making Nigeria’s past more accessible to present and future generations.
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