The weekend marked a significant milestone for ActionAid Nigeria as the group organized a close-out event for its Women’s Voice & Leadership Nigeria (WVL-N) Project in Lagos State.
This five-year initiative, funded by Global Affairs Canada (GAC), spanned seven states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), including Enugu, Cross River, Lagos, Kebbi, Kwara, and Bauchi.
With a $10 million CAD budget, the program disbursed 180 grants to 182 women-led organizations across 24 states and the FCT, reaching over seven million women and girls, including People with Disabilities (PwD).
The close-out event in Lagos highlighted the project’s remarkable achievements in advancing gender equity and safety for women over its five-year duration in the state.
Uche Idoko, Chief Executive Officer of the Center for Gender Economics in Africa, delivered an inspiring presentation on the Lagos State success story.
“This moment signifies a testament to the laudable project we have realized,” she stated, expressing gratitude to the Lagos State government for providing the platform to impact women and girls across numerous communities.
The project’s expansive reach in the state, according to her, was facilitated by 16 partners, including 3 Local Women’s Right Organizations (LWROs), 1 network, and 12 Community Based Organizations (CBOs). Covering 18 local government areas and reaching 46 communities, the initiative allocated over N327 million in financial investments through various grants, including the Multi-year grant, Strategic Opportunity Fund (SOP), Covid-19 Response Grant, Research and Documentation, and Strategic Innovation Fund (SIF).
Over its five-year span from 2019 to 2024, the project directly, in Lagos alone, reached 698,508 individuals, with an indirect reach extending to 1,472,903 people.
Significant strides were made in combating gender-based violence (GBV) and violence against women and girls, with the following key achievements:
- Capacity Building: Training 2,761 young GBV ambassadors to advocate for prevention and response.
- Resource Center: Sponsoring the Ireti Resource Centre case management process, a functional support hub for GBV survivors managed by WRAHP.
- Legal Actions: Contributions to the convictions of two perpetrators of sexual offenses.
- Community Engagement: Mobilizing 11 traditional and community leaders in Alimosho LGA to advocate against GBV.
- Economic Support: Providing 118 vulnerable women and GBV survivors with palliative support during the COVID-19 lockdown.
- Grassroots Outreach: Sensitizing 23,135 grassroots women, 12,854 schoolgirls, and 8,023 schoolboys on GBV prevention and response.
- Law Accessibility: Enhancing community access to GBV laws and policies through simplification and dissemination.
Jack de Lima-Roussel, International Development Officer from GAC Ottawa, expressed her admiration for the project’s impact.
“I’m happy to be here today to witness the success stories of how this project has impacted women and girls. Grateful to hear your testimonies. Thank you all for your unwavering efforts in these five years,” she remarked.
In her heartfelt vote of thanks, Bose Ironsi, Executive Director of Women’s Right and Health Project (WRAHP) and managers of the Ireti Resource Centre, underscored the program’s success in addressing women’s issues at the community level.
“There is no going back in ensuring women have the power to deal with their issues,” she affirmed, reflecting on the strengthened capacity of community-based organizations.
The Close-Out Event not only celebrated past achievements but also reinforced a commitment to continue advocating for women’s rights and gender equity in Nigeria.