The production of Ruwan Dare is based on the Sabido methodology, an entertainment-education technique which uses long-running serialised dramas, written and produced in participating countries in local languages, in order to create characters who gradually evolve into positive role models for the audience. Ruwane Dare will air 234 episodes over two years, and is designed to encourage audiences to engage with the characters, to model positive life choices, and demonstrate how these impact on the individual, family, and community.


Ruwan Dare seeks to address issues related to reproductive health, HIV/AIDS, delayed marriage, and child spacing through two interwoven storylines. Jummai’s story is about risky sexual behaviour and inappropriate role models. Jummai has a friend named Ummi, a film actress who spends her time partying and sleeping with producers and directors. Jummai becomes engrossed with Ummi’s flashy lifestyle, Western dress, and material possessions. Jummai’s mother sees the change in Jummai’s behaviour and warns her about the risks. As time goes on Jummai and Ummi get involved in drugs, are almost raped, and even end up in jail. The story follows Jummai's struggle between her desire to have nice things and her awareness of the consequences.

Azumi’s story begins with Azumi being pregnant while breastfeeding her four-month-old son. She is married to a man named Lawai. During her pregnancy Azumi becomes very sick and must be taken to hospital, where she nearly dies during the delivery of her son. After the terrifying delivery, the health worker tells Azumi and Lawai that Azumi needs to take time to recover after the pregnancy or she will die. The couple's story explores the need for birth spacing and contraception in the context of cultural and social demands to have many children quickly.

Reproductive Health, HIV/AIDS, Maternal Health

Ruwan Dare will be broadcast in Kano, Kaduna, Katsina, and Sokoto States in northern Nigeria. These states have been identified as having the lowest levels of knowledge about contraceptive methods and the lowest exposure to family planning messages in all of Nigeria. These states also have the highest fertility rates, largest desired family size (between 6 and 10 children), highest population growth rates, and highest rates of unmet need for contraception in all of Nigeria.

According to PMC, Ruwan Dare was created as a result of the success of PMC’s programme titled Gugar Goge (“Tell it to Me Straight”), which was a highly popular radio serial drama that addressed issues relating to maternal health and obstetric fistula (a condition commonly resulting from obstructed labour that leaves victims incontinent). The evaluation of Gugar Goge pointed to widespread changes in behaviours and attitudes among audience members with regard to the issues addressed in the programme. It was this success that inspired the production of Ruwan Dare, which was created using the same methodology, but with new characters and storylines.