Follow Us on Google
Nigerian doctoral researcher Ugochukwu Madu has been awarded the 2023 Graduate Engagement Corps (GEC) research grant by the University of Iowa’s Office of Community Engagement for his innovative mixed-methods study that introduces a novel Victim-Perpetrator Triad Model (VPTM) and explores the joint role of social and community media in addressing the prevalence of female genital mutilation (FGM) in Nigeria.
The competitive grant, announced on May 17, 2023, was awarded to only eight graduate scholars selected from the university’s 2023–2024 GEC cohort. Madu, a PhD student in Mass Communication with a focus on Health Communication, was selected for his community-engaged research design that blends academic rigor with grassroots involvement.
Madu’s project is a pilot mixed-methods study examining how social media platforms like Facebook, alongside community radio, influence public perceptions and cultural narratives around FGM. The project applies an explanatory sequential design, beginning with a content analysis of social media posts by FGM victims, followed by in-depth interviews with FGM perpetrators, who are primarily parents, to understand the motivations and cultural values encouraging the practice.
He partnered with the Amaudara Women Union (AWU), a local women’s advocacy group in Nigeria, to ensure the study was community-led and ethically grounded. The findings informed a proposed third phase of the study: a local radio campaign aimed at disrupting FGM-related misinformation and encouraging dialogue to challenge the continuation of FGM practices.
“This grant validates the idea that impactful research should not be done from behind a desk. It should meet people where they are, understand their truths and amplify solutions from within the community,” Madu said during a telephone interview.
The study also introduces a new conceptual framework that he calls the Victim-Perpetrator Triad Model (VPTM) in health communication scholarship, aimed at better understanding conflicting narratives between those affected by and those perpetuating FGM.
The GEC program trains graduate students in community-based research through workshops and mentorship andsupports their work through research grants. During the program’s three-day orientation, Madu and his cohort networked with past fellows and faculty experts to discuss how participatory methods can strengthen research and expand its real-world impact.
Officials from the University of Iowa’s Office of Community Engagement praised the selected scholars for advancing community-driven research. “Congratulations to the eight GEC members from the 2023-24 cohort whose community-engaged research projects have been awarded funding through our competitive grants program,” the Office of Community Engagement stated on its website.
Madu joins a growing list of Nigerian scholars contributing to health equity and social change through academic research, community partnerships and evidence-driven advocacy.
