What in the World - What’s being done to tackle skin-lightening in Nigeria?

Download What’s being done to tackle skin-lightening in Nigeria?

Skin-lightening is a multi-billion-dollar industry and impacts many women, and men, around the world. Within the African context, women in Nigeria use skin-whitening products the most: according to the World Health Organization 77% of women use them regularly. The situation is so bad that Nigeria's National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (Nafdac) declared a state of emergency in 2023.

The BBC’s Madina Maishanu has been speaking to a mother who has used skin-whitening products on all six of her children. Madina shares her story, and talks us through the cultural context of why people use these products. We also hear from aesthetician Zainab Bashir about the risks involved with skin-bleaching.

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Presenter: Iqra Farooq
Producers: Mora Morrison, Maria Clara Montoya and Elena Angelides
Video Journalist: Baldeep Chahal
Editor: Verity Wilde

Published on Tuesday, 20th May 2025.

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