ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) in partnership with Global Affairs, Canada celebrated five year of remarkable achievements of Women’s Voices and Leadership (WVL) project in Nigeria, yesterday in Abuja.
WVL project, an initiative aimed to empower women and girls by advancing their rights and supporting women-led organizations networks and movements in Nigeria has recorded remarkable achievements since it took off in 2019 till 2024.
This project, according to Mamedu Andrew, AAN Country Director, has positively impacted well over 7 million women both in the rural and urban communities across Nigeria, in the last five years.
“These remarkable achievements recorded in the last five years wouldn’t have been possible without the support we earned through Global Affairs Canada and my predecessor – Ene Obi, immediate past Country Director of this reputable organization, whom conceived and nurtured this project from the beginning in 2019 till she left the office last year” Mamedu stated.
Mamedu while recounting the success stories documented throughout the projects said, WVL has strengthened various feminist platforms by helping to address issues around Sexual and Gender based violence in Nigeria.
“Through capacity-building programmes, resource allocation, and mentorship programmes, the WVL Nigeria project has enhanced the financial, technical and organizational capacities of these organizations, enabling them to address the barriers more effectively to gender equality”.
“Our main focus throughout this project since 2019 has been on building the capacity of more than 200 women-led organizations, networks, and movements to address gender equality, while also ensuring their growth and sustainability for continued impact” he said.
Speaking at the event, the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Jamie Christoff said the resounding success stories and significant milestones recorded through the thoroughly implemented WVL Projects across Nigeria would not only strengthen international policies between Canadian Government and Nigeria, but would give birth to more collaborations, commitments and support for future WVL projects.
Christoff added that Global Affairs would ensure the extension of WVL project for another five years so as to maintain the momentum gained in the past five years.
“Based on this impactful project, Canadian Government promises to keep her strong commitment and support towards gender equality through WVL project in the near future” he said.
Several testimonies from numerous beneficiaries of WVL project across Nigeria were pouring in at the event to celebrate the milestones of the project. One of the beneficiaries, Madam Gloria, a victim of gender based violence recounted her touching and life changing encounter after receiving rare financial and moral supports through WVL project in Bauchi State.
Gloria who spoke in Hausa said:
“I’m alive today because God sent WVL project intervention to save me from commiting suicide after I was rendered invalid due to spinal cord injury. My husband abandoned me with no means of survival until I met a women-led NGO in Bauchi that kept supporting me though the WVL project, paid my all my hospital bill and physiotherapy, counselled me and bought food items amongst things for my family.”