Hannunka Mai Sanda Radio Drama

From November 2013 through July 2014, the 15-minute episodes were broadcast on seven radio stations: Kebbi Broadcasting Corporation (in Kebbi State), Aso FM (in Abuja FCT), FRCN (National broadcast), Karama FM (Kaduna State), Rima Radio (in Sokoto State), Freedom Radio (in Kano State), and Companion FM (in Katsina State). From 2015, they are being broadcast on Zuma FM (Niger State), Pride FM (Zamfara State), and Globe FM (Bauchi State).

The drama weaves together four interconnected storylines designed to encourage knowledge and behaviour change around human health and rights:

Dela's story - Dela is a 43-year-old mother with four daughters. She decides to pull her 12-year-old daughter, Aisha, out of school to be married to a much older man for a considerable dowry. Aisha soon becomes pregnant and gives birth, but develops fistula during the prolonged labour because her young body was not ready for the delivery. Aisha returns to her mother’s home, but the smell of faeces and urine drives clients away from Dela's market stall. Dela goes on a quest to find a cure. She first takes the advice from a friend to try traditional treatments and is then convinced to take Aisha for medical treatment to have the fistula repaired.

Adama's story - Newlyweds Adama and Amadu are enjoying their new life together and agree to wait to have their first child until they are more financially stable. But Adama’s mother is eager to have grandchildren and she pushes Adama to stop using contraceptives without Amadu’s knowledge. A complicated birth and the resulting financial costs threaten the happy relationship. When Adama’s mother pushes her to get pregnant again, Adama, with the full support of Amadu, stands up to her mother and says that she and her husband have decided to plan their family.

Hamisu's story - Hamisu is a father of three boys and a girl. His daughter, Larai, is an excellent student and has just been accepted into secondary school. Hamisu has to decide whether he should spend money on his daughter's education or take her out of school to save money. When his friend's teenage daughter falls pregnant, Hamisu realises that keeping his daughter in school will help her to avoid early pregnancy and will also encourage her to reach for her dreams.

Hauwa's story - Hauwa is a serious 17-year-old student with a bright future, but she is seduced by the charm of Datti, who tempts her with money and gifts. Despite warnings from her closest friend, Jamila, Hauwu succumbs to Datti's charms. Datti contracts HIV from one of his many sexual partners, but does not share this information with Hauwa.

PMC uses the Sabido methodology to produce their radio dramas. They are "culturally-specific stories with “positive,” “negative,” and “transitional” characters to model behaviors. Social learning theory demonstrates that people learn from role models. PMC creates dramas that include a full spectrum of choices with fictional characters exhibiting different behaviors. The goal is to broaden the behavioral choices available to the audience by showing a large range of choices and the realistic consequences of different decisions." PMC dramas do not tell people what is "good" or "bad" because that opposes their goal of introducing more information and encouraging discussion and self-reflection.

In order to ensure that dramas are culturally sensitive and appropriate,
PMC hires all local writers, actors, and production staff.

Family planning, HIV/AIDS, Adolescent reproductive health, Education, and Gender-based violence

Context in which the drama is being produced:"Nigeria is the seventh most populous country in the world, with a population of over 170 million. The annual population growth rate is 2.54 percent, which means Nigeria’s population is expected to be more than 207 million by 2020. Only 14.1 percent of people say they use any contraception. UNFPA estimates that anywhere from 100,000 to 1 million women suffer from obstetric fistula and only 43 percent of women obtain a secondary education.”

Impact: PMC conducted a qualitative phone survey, "which revealed that Hannunka mai Sanda provided a highly likable and meaningful listening experience among respondents in the broadcast states in northern Nigeria. Importantly, the results also suggest that for some listeners, and communities, the drama made a difference in their lives through behavioral or attitudinal change, especially regarding decisions about girls’ education and early marriage...."