The Belle by Choice Movement secretariat, African Girls Empowerment Network, has announced the launch of the 2025 edition of their annual Belle by Choice campaign, tagged the 10,000 Men Give Belle by Choice, Not by Force Challenge, scheduled to run from September 1 to December 31, 2025.
The campaign is designed to address the root causes of unwanted pregnancies, child marriage, HIV transmission, and stigma against women and adolescent girls, uptake of family planning and modern contraception, particularly those in vulnerable and displaced communities. Organizers say the initiative will strategically engage men and boys, alongside community leaders, family heads, and traditional and religious authorities, to promote respect for women’s bodily rights and autonomy while combating sexual and intimate partner violence.
“In Nigeria, over 2.5 million unwanted pregnancies are reported every year, many involving adolescent girls. If men and boys are not part of the conversation on sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), the cycle will continue,” said Solomon Asuquo, Campaign Lead for Men Give Belle by Choice.
He added that the challenge aims to bring young men into the center of SRHR education and advocacy, ensuring that reproductive justice is pursued as a shared responsibility.
“We cannot end unwanted pregnancies and gender-based violence without bringing men and boys into the conversation and into the responsibility. This challenge is about responsibility, respect, and reproductive justice.”
As part of this year’s campaign, AGE Network has introduced a special social media competition. Participants are invited to post about the campaign on their platforms. Any post that garners 10,000 likes qualifies the participant for prizes, with the top four winners receiving rewards ranging from Belle by Choice T-shirts to ₦500,000 cash prizes.
The organization is calling on men, women, youths, community stakeholders, and decision-makers, including royal fathers and religious leaders, to join the Belle by Choice movement in advocating for access to modern contraception and family planning services.
For participation details, interested individuals can contact 0704 806 5450, 0704 806 5486 or email operations@agenetwork.org.
