Angie Courage Award 2026: Win ₦500,000 Through Storytelling

Scholarship Details

Applications are open for the Angie Courage Award 2026, a storytelling competition organised by For Communities by Communities (4CbyC) to recognise and support community-based organisations working to improve cancer prevention and control in Nigeria.

The competition invites locally led organisations to share unique stories and community experiences that can promote engagement, raise awareness, reduce stigma and encourage the prevention and control of vaccine-preventable cancers.

The award focuses particularly on cervical and liver cancers, which remain major public health challenges in Nigeria.

Organisations with relevant community experiences can submit written stories, historical accounts, fictional stories or other creative submissions to demonstrate how their work can inspire change.

The top three winning organisations will receive cash awards of ₦500,000, ₦300,000 and ₦200,000, respectively.

The application is free, and the submission deadline has been extended to 13 November 2026.

Benefits of the Angie Courage Award 2026

The competition offers financial support, recognition and opportunities for community organisations to strengthen their work.

The winning teams will receive:

• First Place: ₦500,000.
• Second Place: ₦300,000.
• Third Place: ₦200,000.

According to the application information, the winning teams will receive their awards in two instalments. The screenshots do not specify the payment schedule or the conditions attached to each instalment.

Beyond the cash awards, participating organisations can benefit from:

• Visibility and recognition: Opportunities to gain visibility through local newspapers, social media, the 4CbyC/C3RISE platforms and scientific conferences.
• Training and mentorship: Opportunities for training, mentorship and professional development.
• Networking: Opportunities to connect with researchers and other organisations.
• Partnerships: Opportunities to establish partnerships with researchers and organisations working in cancer prevention and control.
• Community impact: Opportunities to expand existing work and increase the impact of their activities.

About the Angie Courage Award

The Angie Courage Award is presented in memory of Mrs Angie Akunmo, whose inspiration and commitment to leading change are being celebrated through this initiative.

The award recognises ordinary community-based organisations making extraordinary contributions towards ending vaccine-preventable cancers in Nigeria.

It is part of the wider work of For Communities by Communities, which seeks to empower community-based organisations to lead change through storytelling, community engagement and locally driven solutions.

The Problem the Competition Seeks to Address

Nigeria is experiencing a growing cancer burden, with a particularly significant challenge involving cervical and liver cancers.

Some of these cancers can be prevented through vaccination:

• The HPV vaccine can prevent several cancers, including cervical and oral cancers.
• The HBV vaccine protects against hepatitis B infection, which can lead to liver cancer.

However, many communities still lack adequate access to these vaccines and awareness of their benefits. This contributes to increased health burdens and widening health inequalities.

The Angie Courage Award seeks to address this challenge by encouraging community organisations to use storytelling and community experiences to promote awareness, reduce stigma and support cancer prevention.

What Is the Competition Asking Organisations to Do?

Community-based organisations are invited to respond to the following question:

“What unique stories and community experiences can your community-based organization use to promote community engagement, raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote the prevention and control of vaccine-preventable cancers in Nigeria?”

The organisers want organisations to share stories that can lead by example, inspire action and create sustainable change.

Submissions should demonstrate how community experiences and storytelling can contribute to cancer prevention and control.

Eligibility Requirements

The Angie Courage Award is open to organisations and groups that meet the following requirements:

1. Be Based and Actively Operating in Nigeria

The organisation must be based in Nigeria and actively working within a Nigerian community.

2. Be a Locally Led, Non-Profit Community-Based Organisation

Applicants must be locally led, non-profit community-based organisations or groups working to improve people’s lives in their communities.

3. Have Legal Registration or Licensing

The organisation must be legally registered or licensed to operate in Nigeria and must provide proof of its registration or licensing.

4. Have Relevant Community Experience

Applicants must have experience working with communities on health, social or economic issues.

Relevant areas include:

• Vaccine-preventable diseases.
• Cancer prevention and control.
• HIV/AIDS.
• Malaria.
• Women’s empowerment.
• Youth development.
• Education.
• Poverty reduction.

5. Demonstrate Community Understanding

The organisation must demonstrate a strong connection to and understanding of the community it serves.

6. Provide a Recommendation Letter

Applicants must provide a recommendation letter from a respected and recognised member of the community who can speak about the organisation’s work and reputation.

7. Have a Designated Contact Person

Each organisation must identify a contact person who can communicate regularly with the C3RISE team.

8. Participate in Community Activities and Reporting

Organisations must be willing to participate in community outreach activities, check-ins and bi-monthly reporting throughout the award period.

By accepting the award, recipients agree to remain engaged with the C3RISE team and complete the required community activities and reports during the award period.

Storytelling and Submission Requirements

Each community-based organisation is expected to submit one entry.

The organisers accept different storytelling approaches, allowing organisations to present their experiences in a format that best communicates their work.

Accepted formats include:

• Factual narration of personal experiences.
• Accounts of historical or community events.
• Fictional stories.
• Stories accompanied by images or graphics.
• Other creative storytelling approaches relevant to cancer prevention and control.

Language: Submissions can be written in English or a local dialect.

Word limit: A maximum of 500 words.

Organisations may also include supporting materials such as images, audio files and video clips.

The central requirement is that the story should explain how the organisation’s community experiences can promote engagement, raise awareness, reduce stigma and support the prevention and control of vaccine-preventable cancers in Nigeria.

Required Documents and Information

Based on the eligibility and submission requirements, organisations should prepare:

• A completed application or submission form.
• A storytelling submission of no more than 500 words.
• Proof of legal registration or licensing in Nigeria.
• A recommendation letter from a respected and recognised community member.
• Supporting photographs, graphics, audio or video materials, where applicable.
• Details of a designated contact person who can communicate with the C3RISE team.

Applicants should read the guidance document carefully to ensure that all required information is provided.

How Entries Will Be Judged

Entries that meet the submission requirements will be evaluated using six criteria:

1. Relevance – 20%

This assesses whether the submitted story is relevant to cancer control and prevention in Nigeria.

2. Significance – 20%

Judges will consider the importance of the story in promoting cancer control measures in Nigeria.

They will assess its public health benefits and how far the shared stories can reach the populations that need them most.

3. Innovation – 20%

This considers how unique, innovative and original the submission is.

Judges will assess whether the story expands existing knowledge, closes gaps or provides unique insights into preventable cancers.

4. Feasibility – 20%

This examines whether the story is relatable to broader communities and how applicable it is across different settings.

5. Team – 10%

Judges will assess how well the organisation’s team is positioned and aligned to share its story successfully.

6. Communication Clarity – 10%

This evaluates how clearly and effectively the story is communicated in the submission.

How to Apply for the Angie Courage Award 2026

Organisations can submit their proposals through three available methods.

Method 1: Online Submission

1. Visit the online Google Forms application platform.
2. Complete the application form with the required information.
3. Submit your entry before the deadline.

Links to images, audio files and video files can be embedded as hyperlinks in the written submission.

Online Application:
https://bit.ly/4rWZWTt

Method 2: Email Submission

1. Download the offline submission form using the link below.
2. Complete the form and prepare your storytelling submission.
3. Send your completed submission to the organisers by email.

Offline Submission Form:
https://forms.gle/WZCDwneHu94fMQQc6

Images, audio files and video clips accompanying your written submission can also be forwarded to:

Email: c3.risenimr@gmail.com

Method 3: In-Person Submission

Organisations that prefer physical submission can:

1. Download and complete the offline submission form.
2. Prepare the required supporting documents.
3. Submit the completed documents at the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research.

Submission Address:

Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR),
Clinical Science Department,
6 Edmund Crescent, Yaba, Lagos.

Ask for the following contact person:

Dr. Abideen Salako.

For clarification or assistance, contact the organisers through:

Email: c3.risenimr@gmail.com

Website: https://www.4cbyc.org

Application Timeline and Important Dates

The organisers have provided the following schedule:

Final submission deadline: 13 November 2026 at 11:59 PM West Africa Time (WAT).

The deadline was extended from the earlier submission date.

What Happens After Winning?

Winning organisations are expected to remain engaged with the C3RISE team throughout the award period.

This includes:

• Participating in community outreach activities.
• Attending scheduled check-ins.
• Providing bi-monthly reports.
• Completing the required community activities.
• Maintaining communication with the C3RISE team.

The initiative also provides opportunities for recipients to gain visibility, receive training and mentorship, build partnerships and expand their community impact.

About the Organisers

For Communities by Communities (4CbyC) is a community-focused initiative working to prevent and control cervical and liver cancers in Nigeria.

The initiative brings together advocates, researchers, community groups, community members, leaders and cancer survivors to develop solutions that are driven by communities.

Its work focuses on using vaccines, community partnerships, research, innovation and public engagement to support cancer prevention.

The C3RISE team works to ensure that communities are not simply recipients of health interventions but active participants in creating and leading change.

Social Media and Further Information

For updates and additional information, follow the organisers on their social media platforms:

4CbyC

• X: @4cbyc01246
• Instagram: @4cbycorg
• Facebook: 4CbyC

4 Girls & Women by Girls & Women

• X: @4GWorg
• Instagram: @4GWorg
• Facebook: 4 Girls & Women by Girls & Women

Official Website: https://www.4cbyc.org

Conclusion

The Angie Courage Award 2026 provides an opportunity for Nigerian community-based organisations to share their experiences, gain recognition and receive financial support for their work.

If your organisation has been working on health, social or economic issues within a Nigerian community, particularly in areas related to cancer prevention, vaccination and public health awareness, this is an opportunity to showcase your impact.

Prepare a compelling story of no more than 500 words, gather the required supporting documents and submit your application before the extended deadline.

Applications are free. The deadline is 13 November 2026 at 11:59 PM WAT.

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