Local tea vendors attend a family planning information session in Sokoto.
Across Northern Nigeria, tea vendors, locally known as “mai shayi,” operate humble kiosks that bustle with daily conversation. These spaces are more than just places to enjoy tea; they are trusted gathering points for men from all walks of life. They serve as informal forums where politics, the economy, and family matters are discussed.
Recognizing the powerful influence of mai shayi spaces, The Challenge Initiative (TCI) in Sokoto, in collaboration with the state primary health care community engagement team, identified and trained tea vendors as reproductive health champions. The goal was to expand outreach to men and young people by providing accurate family planning information.
Through this collaborative effort, 100 tea vendors from 10 TCI-supported local government areas (LGAs) were carefully selected and equipped with knowledge about family planning and childbirth spacing. The training corrected misconceptions, addressed fears, and prepared vendors with culturally sensitive responses to difficult questions. Ten tea vendors were chosen from each LGA to ensure that their networks could reach men and youth in both urban neighborhoods and rural communities. The goal was simple: empower these trusted men to dispel myths, share accurate information, and encourage referrals to primary health centers using referral Go Cards.
The impact has been remarkable. Visitors to tea kiosks now receive friendly, accurate information about family planning, sometimes over a cup of tea and casual banter. The interactions of tea vendors have reached a wide cross-section of society, including traders, students, artisans, the married and unmarried, the young and elderly, and even technocrats. This ensures that family planning messages are spread to a broad audience.
Abubakar Usman Silame is a tea vendor from Sokoto.
By weaving reproductive health conversations into everyday life, Sokoto is building a sustainable approach that extends beyond clinics and formal outreach. With support from TCI, Sokoto State has reached 129,794 people with accurate family planning messages and completed 57,072 referrals. The tea vendor intervention continues to normalize family planning and create lasting change.
As Alhaji Sani Jabbi, Sarkin Yakin Gagi, explained:
The health and well-being of our families greatly depend on us and on you, our tea vendors. You hold a unique power to influence the minds of the diverse groups of people who gather in your space, whether for a cup of tea, a plate of indomie or simply to rest. It is important to dispel any doubts they may have and guide them to the nearest health facility for further inquiries. Even better, you can invite service providers from nearby facilities to offer clarification and address any concerns directly.”
For the tea vendors themselves, the training has been eye-opening. Abubakar Usman Silame shared:
I learnt something very important about childbirth spacing, and that is it does not stop a woman from having more children in the future. Rather it gives her time to rest, heal and regain energy to take care of herself and her family, while also pursuing her dreams.”
The initiative also transformed personal lives, as Yusuf Abubakar recounted:
After our training with TCI, I discussed it with my wife and she said she had always wanted to discuss childbirth spacing with me but was afraid of how to go about it. We went to the facility together and today, my wife is in good health and is enjoying the break and my pocket is also resting. You know the expenditure that comes with childbirth, naming ceremony, clothes, etc.”
TCI’s engagement with tea vendors in Sokoto is a powerful example of how culturally sensitive, community-rooted solutions can drive social change. By leveraging the voices and influence of mai shayi, the initiative is expanding awareness, acceptance, and demand for family planning in a way that resonates deeply with Sokoto’s communities.
