Nigeria Frontline News - NFNews

11/03/2026

Int’l Women’s Month: How Food Environments Shape Nigerian Women, Girls’ Lives (Opinion)

By Bukola Olukemi-Odele

Healthy eating is often portrayed as a matter of willpower or personal choice. Yet, for millions of women and girls, the concept of choice is an illusion. Their health is significantly influenced by their food environment—the physical, economic, and social factors that determine what food is accessible, affordable, and promoted.

A poor food environment is not just about a lack of food. More often, it is about limited access to nutritious options. This can manifest as food deserts, which are urban or rural areas where fresh, affordable produce is miles away, leaving residents dependent on convenience stores saturated with high-calorie, ultra-processed foods.

When food environments deteriorate in this way, the consequences are not shared equally. Women and girls bear a disproportionate share of the burden. Their bodies move through life stages that demand consistent and specific nutritional support, from adolescence to pregnancy and beyond. Yet the social realities surrounding food availability and preparation deepen their exposure to unhealthy diets.

As fresh and nutritious options become harder to access, supermarket shelves, kiosks, and convenience stores are increasingly dominated by products such as bread, noodles, frozen meals, sugary drinks, reconstituted meat products, fries, and snacks. These foods are deliberately formulated to trigger repeat consumption. They typically contain high concentrations of salt, sugar, fats, and flavour enhancers that create what nutrition researchers describe as hyper-palatability, a sensory quality that strongly stimulates appetite and encourages repeated intake. The result is a steady shift away from whole foods toward diets that fill the stomach while offering little nutritional value.


The health effects are already visible.

Recent data from the Global Nutrition Report indicates that 15.7 percent of women in Nigeria are living with obesity. Research also shows that ultra-processed foods (UPFs) often contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) from packaging materials and industrial additives. For young girls, high consumption of UPFs has been linked to earlier onset of puberty, a development associated with lifelong health risks, including increased susceptibility to breast and ovarian cancers later in life.

The dangers intensify during pregnancy. Diets rich in UPFs can lead to gestational hypertension, diabetes, and even pre-eclampsia. Additionally, high consumption of UPFs is linked to Polycystic O***y Syndrome (PCOS), largely due to insulin spikes caused by refined sugars. Industrial fats may also contribute to oxidative stress that can damage egg quality and complicate conception. In the end, what appears to be a simple matter of diet gradually becomes a question about reproductive health and the wellbeing of future generations.

Another dimension of the problem lies in how these products are marketed. Women remain widely responsible for feeding households and bearing much of unpaid care work, often while managing tight working schedules. Food companies exploit this reality by presenting UPFs as convenient and cheap solutions for the “busy woman.” Instant meals promise speed. Packaged snacks promise convenience. Sugary drinks promise quick energy. In the absence of regulations such as mandatory front-of-package warning labels or restrictions on aggressive marketing, these products quietly become the default choice for consumers and many households.

The consequences extend far beyond individual health. Diet-related illnesses lead to lost workdays, rising medical expenses, and declining economic participation. Women already navigating income disparities often find themselves carrying the extra weight of chronic conditions, including autoimmune diseases, certain cancers, and inflammatory disorders linked to the consumption of UPFs.

Food justice is therefore a crucial feminist issue and sits firmly within the broader conversation about women’s wellbeing. When governments fail to regulate unhealthy food environments, the costs are borne most heavily by those already managing multiple burdens.

Effective action requires more than public health advice. Governments must adopt policies that reshape the market itself. Fiscal measures that discourage unhealthy products, clear front-of-pack warning labels that help consumers make informed choices, mandatory salt limits for processed and pre-packaged foods, and stronger controls on marketing aimed at women and children can help rebalance the forces at play, as well as counter market pressure.

True justice for women and girls means ensuring a world where the food on their plates is a source of strength rather than a slow, creeping threat to their future.



- Olukemi-Odele, a food and nutrition scientist, is the Programme Officer, Cardiovascular Health, at Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA).

11/03/2026

CORN West Africa Rallies Peace Actors, Unveils Peacebuilding Digital Platform
In Abuja

By Nigeria Frontline News - NFNews

Conflict Research Network West Africa (CORN West Africa), has called for strategic focus on peace events and peacebuilding activities in Nigeria.

It's Executive Director, of the Dr Timpreye Felix Allison, in a statement, said it is important to give attention and equal visibility to peace and peacebuilding activities as conflicts and insurgencies currently receive in Nigeria and across the region and the entire world today.

Insisting the attempt is an integral part of broader conflict resolution frameworks, Dr. Allison’s submission aligns with his organisation’s planned User Engagement Dialogue on its digital peace platform named " Nigeria Peace Web (NPW)", to be launched later today Wednesday, March 11, 2026 by 12:00noon, at the Sheu Musa Yar’Adua Foundation, Abuja.

Dr. Allison, a researcher and policy expert, said CORN West Africa, with funding from the UK government through it's Foreign, Development & and Commonwealth (FCDO)-funded SPRiNG Programme, has developed the NPW to support peace actors and actions in Nigeria.

The platform, now in the final demonstration phase, will provide verified peacebuilding data to inform policy responses, support peace programming, and help researchers more accurately and reliably report on peace.

According to him, the initiative was conceived to address the growing imbalance in global research and media reporting where conflict statistics dominate discourse while peace initiatives occurring within communities remain largely undocumented.

“Peace and peacebuilding activities deserve the same visibility and analytical attention that conflicts and insurgencies currently receive in global discourse,” Dr. Allison said. “Across many communities in Nigeria and West Africa, peace initiatives are happening every day, yet they are rarely documented in ways that inform research, policy, or public understanding.”

He noted that the urgency of the initiative is underscored by converging global, regional, and national security trends.

“While conflict datasets such as ACLED and Uppsala Conflict Data are widely available and extensively analysed, peace initiatives remain largely under documented,” Dr. Allison said.

“This gap limits our ability to learn from local interventions and build stronger evidence for sustainable peace.”

Across West Africa, insecurity has also been intensified by the proliferation of illicit weapons. Research by the Small arms Survey estimates that more than eleven million illicit small arms circulate across the region, fueling insurgency, banditry, communal violence, and organised crime.

Similarly, the Economic Community of West African States reports that small arms and light weapons account for more than seventy percent of weapons used in violent conflicts across West Africa, particularly across the Sahel and the Lake Chad Basin.

Nigeria reflects the impact of these regional security pressures. Investigations by Amnesty International indicate that more than ten thousand people were killed in attacks by armed groups and criminal gangs across northern and central Nigeria between 2023 and 2025.

The violence Involves multiple actors including Boko Haram insurgents, factions linked to Islamic State West Africa Province, armed bandit groups, and kidnapping syndicates operating across rural and peri urban communities.

Since the Boko Haram insurgency began in 2009, the conflict has killed more than forty thousand people and displaced about two million people across Nigeria’s north east, according to humanitarian estimates.

States such as Plateau State, Kaduna State, and Katsina State have experienced persistent violence linked to communal tensions, banditry, and kidnapping.

Dr. Allison however noted that even in the midst of these challenges, communities across the affected states continue to implement numerous grassroots peacebuilding initiatives, including dialogue platforms, mediation processes, reconciliation meetings, and community led prevention efforts supported by traditional leaders, civil society organisations, youth groups, and faith based institutions.

“The reality is that peace work is happening quietly in many communities,” he said. “Traditional leaders, civil society organisations, youth groups, and faith institutions are constantly mediating disputes and promoting dialogue. These efforts deserve to be documented and amplified.”

He explained that the User Engagement Dialogue on the Nigeria Peace Web will help to enhance the platform's user friendliness and relevance, and ensure that peace efforts are visible and systematically documented.

“The goal of this platform is simple,” Dr. Allison added. “If conflict data matters for policy and research, peace data should matter as well. By mapping peace events, actors, and beneficiaries through credible reports from academia, journalists, and civil society organisations, we aim to strengthen knowledge sharing and support evidence based peacebuilding. That is why the event happening in Abuja on Wednesday is important. It will provide a forum for the potential users and beneficiaries of the Nigeria Peace Web to make suggestions that will make the platform meet their needs.”

Participants in the User Engagement Dialogue will include local peacebuilding actors, NGOs, and researchers. Others include state and national policymakers, security sector actors, donors, and members of the diplomatic community.

The Nigeria Peace Web is the main deliverable of CORN West Africa's Nigeria Peace Actors and Initiatives in Data (NPAID) project funded under the SPRiNG Programme. The project is piloting in Plateau State, Kaduna State, and Katsina State, with plans to expand across all thirty six states of Nigeria.

17/02/2026

Coalition Warns Against AI Threats to Faith, Urges Media to Lead on Ethical Use

By Shakirudeen Bankole

Religious groups, under the aegis of the Nigeria Religious Coalition on Artificial Intelligence (NRCAI), have pushed back on what they described as the growing campaigns against the concept of God.

At a One-day training in Lagos on Monday, the coalition, led by the Christian Council of Nigeria (CCN) and JamalNasrul International (JNI), the group said it has observed with concerns, the consistent promotion of the conspiracy theory that God does not exist and that the existing religious bodies and groups around the world are mere enterprises out to feast on people's gullibility.

The training is being held simultaneously nationwide, with the South West Regional edition being facilitated by the CCN-Institute of Church and Society, Ibadan, and supported by the Future of Life Institute, United States of America,

In his remarks, Rt. Rev. (Dr.) Evans Onyemara, the General Secretary of CCN, said the coalition is disturbed because of the targeted campaign to spread falsehood at the expense of the truth.

"We are aware that the Nigerian Youth are being targeted. And this demography holds large junk of the nation's population. Adding to it their mastery of the usage of technology, phones and AI, it then becomes clear that the campaign is a strategic one to discredit a religion at the expense of another. It should never be allowed to gain traction," he said.

The General Secretary of CCN, added that the massive reversion to traditional faith and worship, particularly in the Eastern region of the country, can be linked to this development.

He said there i no way AI can not replace God, stressing that God is the beginning, the end and the in-between.

"And this is where we need your help, the disguised members of the Fourth Estate of the Realm, to help us project , amplify and defend the truth," he pleaded.

Buttressing his position, Very Rev. KoladeFadehundi, the Director or CCN-Institute of Church and Ibadan, added that while Christianity has allowed for liberalism that brings out the flexibility being witnessed today, Anarchists and Freethinkers should not take the luck too far to plunge the world into chaos of a Godless society.

"We have seen the dangerous dimension AI is going, and the potential to even push it further. Children are gradually withdrawing from social activities. Young men and ladies are now finding solace in partners created by AI. Just recently we read about two people who committed su***de just to go and meet their AI Spouse.

"One of these people said she was willing to meet her AI boyfriend in real life. And the tool.tokd her to kill herself. And see did. That was record, hence the opportunity to know.

"Our point is that AI can not replace God. The creation of AI is one of the manifestations of God's creature. Hence, it should only be used to advance order and not create chaos. Religious perspectives should not he distorted or mischaracterised at al," the man of God added.

Facilitators at the training, who delivered thought-provoking sessions, one after the other, emphasized on the insistence to uphold the code of ethics of journalism profession.

According to them, the codes believe credible journalism stand on the premise of objectivity, accuracy and fairness, and any narrative that contradict that should be pushed back.

The speakers include
Mr. Philip Jakpor, Executive Director, Renevyln Development Initiative;Tope Oluwaleye, a Veteran Journalist and Media Trainer; Ms. Vanessa Adie, an International Journalist.

On his part, Jakpor urged journalists to lead ethical conversations on Artificial Intelligence, particularly as it affects religion and cultural values in Nigeria.

He said “the media is indispensable if we must address the ethical issues associated with the adoption and deployment of AI in Nigeria.”

According to him, “AI deployment and adoption in Nigeria and Africa must respect our religion, our norms and culture."

He warned that current AI systems rely heavily on datasets that promote Western viewpoints, with the risk of eroding indigenous religious and cultural narratives.

Expressing concern over Nigeria’s religious sensitivity, he noted that unregulated AI driven content could misrepresent faith based issues.

“There is genuine worry among Nigeria’s religious community which represents about 98 percent of the country’s 230 million population,” he said.

Jakpor faulted the Federal Government for failing to adequately involve faith based groups in AI policy discussions.

“The failure of the Nigerian government to ensure inclusion of faith-based groups in the discussions on deployment of AI is a cause for concern,” he added.

He also criticised sections of the media for not sufficiently interrogating AI ethics, saying “the Nigerian media, which is supposed to be a watchdog, is largely in the dark with many journalists ignorantly regurgitating ideals that are extraneous to religion as well as Africa’s cultural norms and values."

To address this gap, Jakpor called for capacity building, saying there is “need to build the intellectual capacity of the Nigerian media to effectively report AI’s impact on religion and religious practices, the cultural and ethical issues AI raises, and best practices for reporting on religion and AI.”

He maintained that the media must promote informed debate and inclusivity in Nigeria’s AI adoption and regulatory framework.

On his part, Oluwaleye, reiterated that journalists must handle religious stories with accuracy, context and respect.

Speaking on the topic: "Reporting Religion,"the Veteran Journalist warned that poor understanding of faith issues can reinforce stereotypes.

He said religion plays a central role in many societies and should not be ignored in news coverage.

“Religion is inseparable from daily life in many communities and it is important not to overlook its influences,” he said.

Oluwaleye warned that neglecting the religious dimension in a story could cause journalists to “unintentionally spread or reinforce negative stereotypes about a group.”

He advised reporters to ground their work in research and understanding, urging them to learn “the basics of the faith, its traditions and the specific group or denomination” they are covering.

He also called on journalists to “listen actively," and ask how faith shapes people’s actions and decisions, noting that such responses often reveal “the soul of the story.”

Acknowledging the positive use of AI in religious evangelism, the trainer admitted the tool is now being used by some Nigerian pastors to craft sermons.

He said the tools are helping to generate sermon outlines, suggest relevant scripture references, and even produce prayer points.

For Islamic Fatih, he noted that there is an ongoing debate among Islamic scholars about the ethics of AI in Sharia Law.

“Another issue is fatwa issuance, should AI tools issue religious rulings, or should they only provide insights to assist human scholars.

"AI-powered Bible study tools are also gaining ground in Nigeria," added.

He added that because of the risk of bias, using must be discerning enough to ensure that AI systems reflect diverse religious scholarly perspectives rather than promoting a narrow viewpoint.

Adie, talked about the need to find a balance in the creative use of AI to promote credible journalism rather than falling into the pitch of plagiarism, copy right infringement,.and distortion.

"AI is now being weaponised to promote and amplify fake news, deepfake, and propaganda. As the Gatekeepers, we must ensure the information integrity processes and procedures are maintained and protected.

"When and if we want to use AI for our works, we must ensure smooth integration,.and give proper citations and references. We must ensure we are knowledgeable enough to protect our jobs against AI or it infiltration," she admonished.

02/02/2026

Rotary Rezoning in Africa Reflects Growth as Nigeria Produces Global President

By Nigeria Frontline News - NFNews

Rotary International's board of Directors have announced the approval of rezoning of Africa Rotary administrative structure from Zone 22 to Zone 22 and 23.

The decision to restructure and expand the administrative dragnet of the international humanitarian organisation on the continent, has marked a quiet but significant shift in the continent’s relevance and indispensable role within one of the world’s most influential humanitarian organisations,.

The announcement, which contained in a Statement released from Evaston, Chicago, United States of America, the Headquarters of Rotary International, coincides with the selection of a Nigerian, Rotarian Olayinka Hakeem Babalola, as the next President of Rotary International.

The move, which separates the former single African zone into Zones 22 and 23, reflects sustained growth in membership, leadership depth and service reach across Africa, and places Nigeria at the centre of a changing global leadership conversation.

Rotary board explained that the decision followed its periodic global review of zones to ensure balance in membership strength, administrative efficiency and leadership representation.

Rotary noted that the expansion of clubs and districts across Africa, alongside the increasing scale of humanitarian interventions driven by African Rotarians, informed the restructuring.

Within Rotary’s governance system NFNews can report that, zoning carries practical consequences. Zones shape leadership pathways, determine representation in global decision processes and influence how programmes and resources are coordinated.

The creation of two African zones therefore signals a structural recognition of Africa’s growing contribution to Rotary’s mission and its readiness for broader responsibility within the organisation.

Against this backdrop, Rotary International confirmed the selection of Olayinka Hakeem Babalola, a Rotarian from Port Harcourt, Rivers State, as President for the 2026 to 2027 Rotary year, beginning on July 1, 2026.

His emergence makes him only the second African to lead Rotary International since its founding in 1905 and returns the presidency to Nigeria after more than two decades.

Babalola was selected by the Rotary International Board of Directors following the resignation of the former President elect. His Rotary journey spans more than thirty years, beginning as a Rotaractor in 1988 and progressing through senior roles including District Governor, Vice President of Rotary International and member of the Board of Directors.

His career within the organisation reflects steady engagement with both community level service and institutional governance.

Professionally, Babalola is an engineer and lawyer with extensive experience in the oil and gas sector, having worked in senior positions across several regions of the world. He is based in Port Harcourt, where he remains closely linked to local service initiatives and Rotary programmes.

Rotary International operates as a global network of over 1.2 million members in more than 45,000 clubs worldwide. Its development work focuses on practical human needs, including disease prevention, access to clean water and sanitation, education, peace building and economic empowerment.

These interventions are largely implemented through local partnerships that combine volunteer service with sustainable development planning.

One of Rotary’s most notable global contributions remains its role in the fight against polio. As a founding partner of the Global Polio Eradication Initiative, Rotary has contributed funding, advocacy and volunteer mobilisation that have helped reduce polio cases worldwide by more than ninety nine percent.The effort has protected billions of children and stands as a benchmark for community driven public health action.

Rotary also maintains a formal relationship with the United Nations through consultative engagement with the Economic and Social Council, enabling it to participate in global development discussions, support peace initiatives and align grassroots action with international development priorities.

For Africa, the rezoning is expected to strengthen coordination, leadership development and programme oversight across clubs and districts.

Rotary International
Rotary International President
Rotary Worldwide
Babalola

02/02/2026

Steve Amuda Enters Akoko Reps Race, Projects Youth-Driven Policy Alternative

By Nigeria Frontline News - NFNews

Steve Amuda, a development and policy expert, has declared his intention to contest the House of Representatives seat for Akoko North-West/North-East Federal Constituency of Ondo State.

Presenting himself under the auspices of one of the leading opposition political parties, the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Amuda, said it was time to take the rhetorics of youth being the leaders of tomorrow, to reality.

Young, brilliant, cerebral and innovative, Amuda is positioning himself as a youthful and reform-oriented alternative in a political race that would see him transitioning from policy advocate to policymaker, if or when he got elected.

In a manifesto, made available to newsmen over the weekend, Amuda outlined a policy-focused agenda centred on security, youth employment, road infrastructure, healthcare, education, and inclusive governance—areas he described as critical to restoring opportunity and dignity to the constituency.

Amuda currently serves as Regional Coordinator for Centre for Democracy and Development ( CDD West Africa), an international pro democracy and research development organisation, reputed for advancing good governance, social justice and national cohesion development and policy through advocacy.

His work at the frontline of Nigeria’s insurgency and humanitarian crises has involved extensive engagement on armed conflict, youth radicalisation, governance failure, and social exclusion, giving him practical exposure to how policy decisions directly affect young people and vulnerable communities.

According to him, Nigeria’s deepening insecurity and unemployment crisis cannot be addressed through outdated politics or symbolic gestures, but through evidence-based legislation and accountable representation.

“Politics must move beyond handouts and tokenism. It must be driven by ideas, competence, and solutions that speak to the realities facing young people,” Amuda stated.

He said his decision to seek elective office reflects the growing demand among young Nigerians for leaders who understand governance, public policy, and the structural roots of insecurity and economic hardship.

Amuda criticised what he described as decades of patronage-driven politics in Akoko North-East and North-West, noting that poor road networks, rising youth unemployment, insecurity along major routes, and declining access to quality healthcare and education have continued to limit opportunities for the younger generation.

He identified the Ikare–Erusu–Ikaram–Ajowa–Akunu road corridor as a major security flashpoint, warning that persistent kidnapping and banditry along the axis threaten livelihoods, mobility, and economic growth.

Outlining his approach, the ADC aspirant said he would push for community-based policing, support state police reforms with strong legal safeguards, and advocate the professional regulation of vigilante groups under the supervision of the Nigeria Police Force.

He also pledged to promote skills acquisition, vocational training, and youth-focused economic initiatives to tackle unemployment and social disillusionment.

“A secure, educated, and economically empowered youth population is the foundation of national stability,” he said, adding that he would advocate stronger funding and oversight for primary healthcare and education systems in the constituency.

Amuda concluded by pledging inclusive rep

resentation, stressing that his ambition is not driven by political entitlement but by a desire to bring fresh thinking, policy competence, and youthful energy into the National Assembly at a time when Nigeria’s future increasingly depends on the choices made today.

House of Representatives, Federal Republic of Nigeria
Ondo State Forum!
Steve Amuda

21/01/2026

21/01/2026

Nigeria Police appears to be loosing the perceptual war.. Something must be done quickly

21/01/2026

Book review: ‘Under the rain' by Ayo Deforge is a fictional story on medical incompatibility between potential partners

By Nigeria Frontline News - NFNews

If you are looking for a novel that allows you to momentarily escape the daily hullabaloo of life or take a refreshing break from social media, Under The Rain by Ayo Deforge is an ideal companion.

The novel is engaging, emotionally charged, and deeply suspenseful, with a storyline that remains largely unpredictable. Beyond its entertainment value, it is also profoundly thought-provoking.

Under The Rain is a love story intricately woven into medical fiction, with a particular focus on genotype incompatibility.

The narrative follows Bolaji and Shola, childhood neighbours in a Lagos estate, whose bond begins at a tender age. Despite strict parental restrictions, the two repeatedly find time to be with each other, a testament to the innocence and intensity of their early affection.

When Shola’s parents discover her secret meetings with Bolaji, her father responds with brutal punishment, flogging her severely. Bolaji’s decision to visit her home after days of not seeing her, despite the risk of being caught, highlights his youthful bravery and the quiet strength of his devotion. It becomes clear that only love could inspire such daring acts.

One of Bolaji’s major flaws is his inability to openly express his feelings. He carries a love letter everywhere, yet lacks the courage to hand it to Shola. In contrast, Shola is portrayed as vibrant and high-spirited, often surrounding herself with different boys from her school.

This behaviour eventually places Bolaji in trouble, particularly when one of these boys gifts her a wristwatch and Shola’s father thinks it’s from Bolaji!

Ayo Deforge demonstrates a remarkable command of emotional storytelling. She skillfully evokes tension, provocation, and suspense, keeping the reader constantly eager to know what will happen next. The narrative’s unpredictability is one of its strongest assets and reflects the hallmark of effective storytelling, drawing readers deeper into the plot with each chapter.

The emotional peak of the novel occurs as Bolaji patiently waits for Shola to end her series of university relationships so he might finally confess his love.

Deforge intensifies the emotional weight when Bolaji, instead of being honest, continues to support Shola through repeated heartbreaks, including accompanying her through multiple abortions after she is abandoned by the man who impregnates her.

Despite these painful circumstances, Bolaji still struggles to declare his love, until the defining moment in an abortion room when Shola admits she loves him, prompting Bolaji to finally respond, “Shola, I’ve always loved you.”

Beyond romance, the novel tackles serious social and medical issues. One of its most thought-provoking elements is its portrayal of the struggles faced by sickle cell patients. This is vividly illustrated through Bamidele, Bolaji’s younger brother, who suffers not only physically but emotionally.

The cruelty he faces from his own grandmother who calls him “half human”, reveals deep-seated stigma and selfish motivations, particularly her desire for Bolaji’s father to marry a second wife due to genotype complications.

Genotype incompatibility resurfaces as a major obstacle when it prevents Shola from marrying the man she truly loves. Although both characters go on to marry other partners, they remain emotionally attached to each other, unable to find fulfilment in their respective marriages.

Deforge also highlights pressing issues confronting women in contemporary society, including ectopic pregnancy and unsafe medical practices. Shola’s experiences, alongside those of other women in the novel, expose the dangers of misinformation and reliance on quack doctors, decisions that later lead to irreversible consequences in her marital life.

Another striking theme is female ge***al mutilation, portrayed through Yetunde, Bolaji’s wife. Deforge powerfully illustrates how harmful cultural practices affect women’s physical and emotional wellbeing.

Yetunde’s inability to enjoy intimacy in her marriage, and her eventual fear of s*x, underscore the long-term trauma of such practices, even to the point where she suggests her husband marry a second wife.

Shola’s parents are excessively strict, a trait that prevents her from opening up to them about her problems. As a result, her life becomes increasingly difficult, leaving too much room for vulnerability, reliance on peer advice, and repeated unwanted pregnancies, which ultimately shape her regrets later in life.

The novel’s conclusion is particularly commendable. Shola’s final choices reflect emotional maturity and compassion, and the way her marriage is handled adds complexity to the narrative, as it avoids easy resolutions.

Overall, Under the Rain is a compelling blend of romance, medical fiction, and social commentary. Ayo Deforge succeeds in delivering a powerful narrative that entertains while challenging readers to reflect on love, choice, culture, and consequence.