Very Young Adolescent Survey (VYAS)

The Very Young Adolescent Survey (VYAS)

Nigeria Survey on
Gender Norms, Attitudes,
Health and Wellbeing.

ABOUT THE PROJECT

The Very Young Adolescent Survey (VYAS) examines how gender norms impact the health and future of Nigerian young adolescents.

Gender norms influence how people are treated, the choices they can make, and the opportunities available to them, often from a very young age. The Very Young Adolescent Survey helps us understand these everyday beliefs and expectations and how they affect health, safety, education, and economic opportunities for girls, boys, and communities more broadly.

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Understanding Social Dynamics

It sheds light on how common beliefs about gender shape daily life, relationships, and decision-making.

Identifying Risks and Barriers

It highlights how harmful norms can limit opportunities and contribute to inequality, violence, and poor health outcomes.

Centering Lived Experiences

It gives voice to the experiences of adolescents, women, and men, ensuring real stories inform real solutions.

Driving Evidence-Based Action

It supports better policies and programs by providing clear evidence on what needs to change and where.

Scaling Impact Nationally

It creates a replicable framework for expanding successful interventions across diverse communities and regions.

Monitoring Progress

It helps track progress over time, showing where attitudes are shifting and where more action is needed.

PROJECT PHASES

The project combines research, community engagement, and interventions, in five connected phases, allowing us to learn, act, and measure change over time.

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IMPLEMENTING STATES

The Gender Norms Project is being implemented in 14 states across all six geopolitical zones of Nigeria, ensuring broad national representation.

The study covers Adamawa, Benue, Cross River, Ebonyi, Edo, Enugu, Kaduna, Kano, Kebbi, Lagos, Nasarawa, Abuja (FCT), Gombe, and Oyo, working closely with communities, schools, and local stakeholders to reflect diverse social, cultural, and geographic contexts.

LEARNINGS SO FAR

Gender norms are deeply embedded in everyday life
and begin shaping attitudes and behaviours from a young age.

Across different states and communities, people are openly sharing how these norms influence relationships, daily experiences, and opportunities. While norms and experiences vary across regions and communities, several common patterns are emerging.

Gender Expectations

Gender expectations are often learned early and reinforced at home, in schools, religious spaces, and peer groups.

Restrictive Norms

Many people follow restrictive norms because of social pressure, even when they personally question them.

Flexible Views

Adolescents and young people frequently express more open and flexible views on gender than older generations, suggesting opportunities for positive change.

Shaping Attitudes

Parents, teachers, and community leaders play a key role in shaping attitudes; either maintaining harmful norms or supporting positive change.

Communities

Communities are eager for respectful conversations and practical solutions that promote fairness, safety, and wellbeing.

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

From Research to Action

The Gender Norms Project is designed to generate knowledge, and also to support real, positive change in communities. Insights from the study will be used to inform action at community, policy, and program levels.

Evidence-Driven Policy and Programming

Generating data-backed insights to guide policies, programs, and interventions that advance gender equality and improve wellbeing.

Community-Led Norm Change

Promoting community-informed approaches that challenge harmful gender norms in homes, schools, and public spaces.

Sustained Awareness and Practical Action

Increasing awareness, strengthening dialogue, and providing practical tools to drive lasting positive change across Nigeria.