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Women’s Rights Organisations (WROs) across Nigeria are scaling up interventions to promote gender equality, women’s economic empowerment, political participation and the prevention of gender-based violence under the Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership Nigeria (RWVL-N) Project.
The five-year initiative, implemented by ActionAid Nigeria with funding from Global Affairs Canada, is supporting locally led organisations through institutional strengthening, grant funding, advocacy and movement-building to improve the lives of women and girls.
The project is currently being implemented in states including Bauchi, Benue, Cross River, Enugu, Imo, Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, with participating organisations driving programmes tailored to the needs of their communities.
In Bauchi, Gombe and Plateau states, the Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) is promoting women’s financial inclusion through entrepreneurship training, financial literacy and community mobilisation. As part of the initiative, the organisation brought together 56 traditional, religious and community leaders across 10 communities to strengthen support for women’s economic empowerment.
In Cross River State, Gender and Development Action (GADA) is addressing gender disparities in the palm oil, cocoa and seafood value chains by mapping barriers limiting women’s participation. The findings are expected to support advocacy for more inclusive economic policies.
The Women Aid Collective (WACOL) is leading implementation in Enugu State through partnerships designed to strengthen responses to gender-based violence and advance the rights of women and girls.
As part of the programme, WACOL inaugurated the Enugu State RWVL-N Project Steering Committee to enhance collaboration between government agencies and civil society organisations.
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Members of the committee include representatives of the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), the Enugu State Ministries of Children, Gender and Social Development; Budget and Planning; Trade, Investment and Industry; the Enugu State Disabilities Commission, alongside other stakeholders.
The project is also expanding public engagement on women’s political participation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Through Women Radio 91.7FM, the initiative is supporting programmes that promote voter education, increase the visibility of female candidates and encourage informed public discourse on women’s representation in politics.
Similarly, the Voice of Women Empowerment Foundation (VOWEF) is profiling women leaders, providing electoral information and promoting conversations on women’s leadership and participation in governance.
Across Benue, Imo, Kebbi, Kwara, Lagos and the Federal Capital Territory, participating organisations are implementing initiatives focused on economic empowerment, leadership development, institutional strengthening, social inclusion and the prevention of gender-based violence.
Beyond programme implementation, RWVL-N is strengthening the institutional capacity and long-term sustainability of participating organisations while fostering collaboration among women’s rights groups nationwide.
The project also supports strategic communication and public awareness initiatives aimed at showcasing the impact of women’s rights organisations and amplifying their advocacy efforts.
According to the organisers, the Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership Nigeria Project builds on the successes of the previous Women’s Voice and Leadership Nigeria initiative by reinforcing locally led solutions that position women’s rights organisations as key drivers of gender equality and social development across Nigeria.
