Sex education in Nigeria is no longer what it used to be. For years now, a new generation of educators, therapists, and advocates have been changing the way we talk about sex and reproductive health, and it’s been beautiful to watch.
Here are five women leading the charge and making sex education and therapy, feel relatable and empowering,
Iretioluwa Oba‑Okojie
If you’ve ever stumbled on Ireti’s Instagram page(@talksexwithireti), you’ve probably smiled, laughed, and then paused to think deeply. With her, nothing is off-limits. From conversations about consent and body image to navigating intimacy in marriage, Ireti brings a refreshing honesty to topics often coated in shame. She created and hosted the “Building Intimacy” series of events in Lagos and abroad and Authored e-books like SQUIRT 101 to combine education, storytelling and social connection around intimacy, consent, reproduction and emotional wellness.
Olawumi Esan
Olawumi Olawunmi is a trained psychologist and Certified Psychosexual and Cognitive Behavioural Therapist whose platform reaches thousands of individuals and couples. she’s your go-to online therapist who reminds you that it’s okay to not have everything figured out. She has worked with over 5,000 couples and individuals across a range of sexual concerns (vaginismus, sexual pain, trauma, dysfunction, etc.) guiding them from “just functioning” to “actively thriving” in their intimacy.
Jessica Sampson
Jessica is on a mission to make women fall in love with their bodies again. From menstrual health to fertility awareness, she simplifies reproductive science with stunning visuals and relatable language. She believes knowledge is liberation, especially for women, and she delivers it in the most empowering ways. She won the Eloy Awards’ “Best on Couple’s Relationship and Intimacy” in 2022 — a mark of recognition for her work and she has built a platform that doesn’t shy away from body literacy, fertility awareness, sexual health education and emotional connection.
Damilola Olonisakin aka Oloni
In a society where faith and sex education often clash, Oloni stands gracefully at the intersection, helping people navigate intimacy, therapy, and spirituality without guilt. She runs the blog Simply Oloni, which covers sex, relationships and lifestyle, helping women (and men) rethink their love lives, sexual choices and self-understanding. In recognition of her hard work, Oloni was Included on OkayAfrica’s “100 Women” list — marking her influence and contribution to the dialogue around female sexual empowerment.
Yeside Olayinka Agboola
Yeside (also known by her handle “OloriCoitus”) is a Nigerian sex educator/coach and the country’s first accredited intimacy coordinator in the film industry. She worked as intimacy coordinator on productions including MTV Shuga Naija Season 5, Hosts conversations and content around “sex and the African mother”, single motherhood, libido differences, self-pleasure, and reclaiming intimacy through her podcast “Sex and the African Mother”. She understands the Nigerian audience the cultural nuances, the awkward silences, and she dismantles them with ease.
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