INWOAD Urges Government, Stakeholders to Strengthen Women’s Empowerment, Safety

The Initiative for Women’s Accelerated Development in Africa (INWOAD) has called on government, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to take deliberate and practical steps toward promoting the rights, welfare and empowerment of women and girls across Nigeria.

The call was made during the organisation’s general meeting held virtually on March 10, 2026, to commemorate the 2026 celebration of International Women’s Day, themed “Give to Gain.

In a statement jointly signed by the National Coordinator of INWOAD, Lydia Samson, and the organisation’s Public Relations Officer, Mina Daniels, the meeting brought together members to deliberate on practical actions needed to improve the lives of women and girls in line with the global theme.

Speaking at the meeting, the President and Founder of INWOAD, Evelyn Onyilo, urged members to move beyond annual discussions by matching advocacy with concrete actions that promote gender equality.

She called on governments at all levels to ensure greater inclusion of women in governance by implementing the 35 per cent affirmative action policy in both appointive and elective positions.

Onyilo also urged authorities to introduce targeted economic programmes, including grants and soft loans, to support women-owned businesses and strengthen women’s economic independence.

She further emphasised the need for stronger measures against sexual and gender-based violence, stressing that perpetrators must be brought to justice while survivors receive adequate protection, shelter and rehabilitation.

In alignment with the 2026 IWD theme, members presented several proposals aimed at empowering women and girls through education, mentorship and skills development.

Participants highlighted the importance of focusing on vulnerable groups such as widows, rural women and out-of-school girls by providing training opportunities and sustainable mentorship programmes.

Members also proposed internal skill acquisition initiatives where INWOAD members could train others in vocational skills such as baking and entrepreneurship as a means of promoting financial independence among women.

The meeting also recommended collaboration with community organisations to distribute sanitary pads to vulnerable adolescent girls in schools in order to encourage school attendance and reduce dropout rates.

Other issues raised during the discussions included child marriage, mental health support, maternal and reproductive healthcare, and the removal of cultural and systemic barriers that limit women’s participation in leadership and development.

Members further emphasised the need for stronger advocacy to ensure that funds allocated for youth and women development programmes are properly utilised to support vulnerable groups.

Meanwhile, INWOAD President Evelyn Onyilo has inaugurated a new executive team to coordinate the organisation’s programmes and expand its impact nationwide.

The management team will be led by Lydia Samson as National Coordinator, with Jamila Umar serving as Deputy National Coordinator and Queen Kunde as National Secretary, alongside other management members and zonal coordinators across the six geopolitical zones.

Speaking on behalf of the new leadership team, Samson thanked members for the confidence reposed in them and assured that the team would work diligently to achieve the organisation’s vision and strengthen its programmes across the country.

She also called for the cooperation and active participation of members in building a stronger organisation capable of delivering meaningful impact.

The meeting also discussed strategies for sustaining the organisation’s programmes, including partnerships with philanthropists, corporate organisations and community-based empowerment initiatives.

Members agreed that training, mentorship and empowerment activities for vulnerable women and girls should commence immediately, even on a modest scale, in line with the theme “Give to Gain.”

The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment by members to promote gender equality, empower women economically and expand opportunities for the girl child across Nigeria.