In the aftermath of Fertility Awareness Month in June, a landmark screening of the Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA)-nominated documentary "Not Addressing This Anymore" (NATA) at the University of Lagos (UNILAG) transformed a film exhibition into a platform for awareness, education, and social change. The screening, designed to sustain conversations on infertility beyond annual campaigns, brought the issue into classrooms and encouraged young people to confront the stigma before it becomes entrenched in society.
A Shared Medical Condition
Directed by acclaimed filmmaker Huzzain Bello, NATA made its university debut before a packed audience at the Afe Babalola Auditorium, Faculty of Communication and Media Studies, UNILAG. The documentary is centered around a message experts say has been overlooked for decades: infertility is a shared medical condition, not a burden borne by women alone. Medical evidence shows that male-factor infertility, including low sperm count and azoospermia, contributes significantly to fertility challenges among couples. However, prevailing cultural beliefs continue to place disproportionate blame on women.
Breaking the Stigma
Speaking after the screening, Bello said the documentary was conceived to replace silence with understanding and empathy. "This screening was never just for the women in the room. Fertility is a shared experience, and the stigma surrounding infertility will only be broken when young men recognise that this conversation concerns them too," he said. The event received institutional support from the Director-General of the National Film and Video Censors Board (NFVCB), Dr. Shaibu Husseini, who is also a lecturer at the University of Lagos and played a key role in facilitating the documentary's screening within the university.
Educating the Next Generation
The engagement extended beyond the screening as Mrs. Umo Akinselure, a certified fertility counsellor featured in the documentary, led an interactive question-and-answer session on fertility, reproductive health, and the emotional challenges experienced by individuals and couples facing infertility. The programme was supported by The Bridge Clinic, one of Nigeria's leading fertility and reproductive health institutions, alongside Deen Consult Services, a co-producer of the documentary. The collaboration underscored the growing partnership between the creative industry, academia, and healthcare professionals in promoting public health education.
Nationwide Tour
Following its successful UNILAG debut, NATA is set to embark on a nationwide university tour, with confirmed screenings scheduled at Crescent University, Abeokuta; Babcock University; and Nile University, Abuja, when students resume for the October academic session. Discussions are also ongoing with several other tertiary institutions across the country. Since its release, the documentary has continued to receive widespread recognition, including a nomination for Best Documentary at the 2026 Africa Magic Viewers’ Choice Awards (AMVCA).
Expanding Conversations
The producers are now developing NATA into a feature-length documentary, with the aim of expanding conversations on infertility beyond cinema screens and lecture halls to homes, healthcare facilities, and public policy spaces across Nigeria. With its message of shared responsibility and the growing recognition of male-factor infertility, NATA is poised to contribute to a more informed and empathetic national conversation on infertility.
Source: Prime News
