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LotusbySustyVibes

Supporting young women to lead, connect, and thrive.

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As young people and feminists, we are living in a global polycrisis where overlapping political, social and environmental challenges are threatening our collective resilience. Now more than ever, we need more spaces that support young women and girls in finding their voices in these times.

Jennifer Uchendu, Founder of SustyVibes

About

Lotus by SustyVibes is our leadership training programme for women and girls navigating activism, creativity, and community leadership in a time of global polycrisis. Across the continent, young women are organising, creating, and speaking out against systems that limit their rights and opportunities. Yet many of them are doing this work while navigating burnout, isolation, and structural barriers. Lotus brings young women together in a supportive learning community where leadership development, feminist learning, and personal wellbeing exist side by side. Through training sessions, intergenerational dialogue, creative exploration, and wellness practices, Lotus supports young women to lead with clarity, courage, and care for themselves and their communities.

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How Lotus Is Designed

Lotus runs as a 12-week learning journey designed around collective learning, reflection, and feminist practice. Each cohort moves through a series of weekly sessions that combine virtual conversations, in-person gatherings, and moments for rest and renewal.

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Learning Sessions

The ladies explore themes such as African feminism, rights and representation, feminist leadership, storytelling, and advocacy.

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Intergenerational Dialogues

Feminist elders and leaders join the programme to share their experiences, insights, and lessons from years of organising and advocacy.

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Wellbeing and Renewal

Recognising the emotional demands of activism and social change work, the programme integrates wellness practices such as breathing sessions, somatic exercises, yoga and reflective breaks.

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Peer Community

Participants build relationships with other young women navigating similar journeys, creating a supportive network that continues beyond the programme.

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Celebration and Reflection

Each cohort concludes with a close-out gathering that celebrates participants' work and reflections from the programme.

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Unapologetic Feminists and Gender Advocates

Participants in this cohort explore feminist leadership, collective organising, and storytelling for advocacy. They examine how personal narratives and community experiences can challenge gender inequality and influence public conversations.

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Adesola Adekanbi

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Boluwatife Ogungbesan

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Omolayo Ogunyemi

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Nwagbo Kosarachi

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Ngozi Ugbekile

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Rahilah Namah

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Sakeenat Adesina

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Elizabeth Aransiola

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Omolola Akinsanya

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Dolapo Salako

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Esther Ezem

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Ope Omole

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Chidinma Okoye

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Ifeoluwa Aigbiniode

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Chidera Elobuike

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Oyindamola Odekanmi

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Ayomide Ayorinde

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Favour Ejindu

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Creatives

This cohort brings together artists, writers, performers, and storytellers who use creative expression to explore social issues. Participants explore artivism and the role of creative practice in shaping feminist narratives and cultural change.

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Precious Obiabunmo

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Adesewa Alagbala

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Esohe Iyare

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Damilola Kehinde

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Christianah Odunayo Balogun

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Glory Duruem

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Divine Darby

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Oluwapelumi Oyetade

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Joyce Eke

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Aghogo-Tega Onobrakpeya

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Nora Okoye

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Princess Briggs

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Faizat Shuaib

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Peter Janet

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Oluwaseun Oyedele

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Chioma Udonna

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Merit Nwachukwu

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Ecofeminists and Environmental Advocates

Participants working at the intersection of climate justice and gender equality explore ecofeminism, environmental leadership, and the role of women in shaping sustainable futures.

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Zainab Kadiri-Lawal

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Gabrielle Eze

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Shitna'an Linus

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Nana Augoye

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Kikelomo Lawal

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Oluchi Okonkwor

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Oyinkansayo Oluokun

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Oluwaseun Abijo

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Oluwaseun Ilesanmi

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Amanda Etsu

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Mayeloye Esther

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Abigail Timothy

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Aishat Ado

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Adetayo Boluwatife

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Oluwaseyi Olukoya

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Edna Oseghale

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Sarah Olotu

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Ezinne Nnorom

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Damilola Omotosho

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Joy Eneh

Zine

Lotus Zine Compilation

Open Full Zine →

Our Faculty

Guided by experienced leaders.

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Chioma Agwuegbo

Executive Director, TechHerNG

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Benedicta Oyedayo Oyewole

Regional Community Engagement and Partnership Lead, IPPF Africa Region

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Olaoluwa Abagun

Executive Director, ATHENA Network

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Osasu Edobor

Founder, Think Help Restore (THR) Media

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Jennifer Uchendu

Founder, SustyVibes

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Cynthia Mbamalu

Director of Programs, Yiaga Africa

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Olabunkola Buky Williams

Executive Director, Education as a Vaccine (EVA)

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Bose Agbonmerele Ireti

Founder & Executive Director, Women's Rights and Health Project (WRAHP)

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Gbemi Adekoya

Psychotherapist

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Adenike Essiet

Co-founder & Executive Director, Action Health Incorporated (AHI)

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Wana Udobang

Writer, poet, performer and storyteller

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Chiamaka Dike

Digital Journalist

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Maryam Ahmad

Communications Strategist

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Nafisa Atiku

Founder of NAF Foundation

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Von Izulu

Founder of Von Wellness

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Amanda Iheme

Architecture photographer and clinical psychologist

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Tolulope Ami-Williams

Multidisciplinary performance artist and art educator

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Busola Rafiat Ojo-Oba

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Monica Rodrigues

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Zainab Yunusa

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Rita Idehai

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Dr. Priscilla Mbarumun Achakpa

Intergenerational Wisdom

Meet Our Sages

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This is about patriarchy or a system that elevates male authority over female authority, but we each can challenge those oppressions and privileges by trying to understand that we are better off when we equally have opportunities and we are all protected.

Dr Amina Salihu

Deputy Director, MacArthur Foundation Africa Office

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What makes an African feminist unique, is that we believe in the power of collectives. I believe that if I hold the hand of one girl and another girl holds the hand of another girl, then we can have a ripple effect of women coming together, to push and change the world.

Ngozi Nwosu Juba

Project Director, Vision Springs Initiatives

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African feminism is a feminism that advocates that African women be fully human, tackling cultural practices that dehumanize African women and challenges issues that ensure African women have a place in the world and are able to stand toe to toe with any other woman from any other region.

Angel Nduka-Nwosu

Editor and Founder, The Emecheta Collective

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Feminism is about the fact that when you are born, you are first a human being before anything else and therefore you should also have human rights and you should be seen as a full-fledged member of society not a second class citizen.

Elizabeth Enu Akan

Founder, Network for Safeguarding Women's Health And Rights

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Feminism in Africa is not just about breaking barriers but about bridging the gap between tradition and progress, women and power, and dreams and opportunities. Every young woman must know that their voice is a force, their ideas are valid, and should never apologize for wanting more.

Hannah Omokhaye

Founder, The EcoSmart Club Project

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As a woman with visual impairments, I understood early that a woman who has a disability is in double jeopardy, and discrimination does not reduce its effect because you have a disability; in fact, it amplifies, and you have to navigate through that. So my lived reality and personal experiences channeled me in the direction of gender and disability advocacy.

Eleanora Boyo

House of Eleanora Foundation

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Everybody should actually be feminists, not just women and girls, because the systematic barriers, discrimination, gender based violence are obvious and are not hidden from our everyday life. Yes, people are coming out and are advocating for these issues but we need more voices.

Rahma Jimoh

Poet and Freelance journalist

Partners

German Federal Foreign OfficeGoethe InstitutHouse of African Feminisms (HoAF)

Community

Lotus participants remain part of our community after the programme, building a growing network of feminist leaders, creatives, and environmental advocates supporting one another across different sectors.

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