By Gabriel Ameh
Abuja — The Initiative for Women’s Accelerated Development in Africa (INWOAD) has called on government institutions, civil society organisations and other stakeholders to take deliberate and practical actions aimed at 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, as part of activities marking the 2026 International Women’s Day (IWD) with the theme “Give to Gain.”
In a statement issued by the National Coordinator, Lydia Samson, and the Public Relations Officer, Mina Daniels, members of the organisation discussed practical measures required to improve the living conditions of women and girls in line with the global gender equality agenda.
Speaking during the meeting, the President and Founder of INWOAD, Evelyn Onyilo, urged members to move beyond annual conversations and focus on concrete actions that promote gender equality and women’s empowerment.
She called on government at all levels to ensure greater inclusion of women in governance by implementing the 35 percent affirmative action policy in both appointive and elective positions.
Onyilo also advocated the introduction of targeted economic programmes, including grants and soft loans for women-owned businesses, to strengthen women’s financial independence and improve their participation in economic development.
She further emphasised the need for stronger measures to address sexual and gender-based violence, stressing that perpetrators must be held accountable while survivors receive protection, shelter and rehabilitation.
During the meeting, members presented several practical proposals aimed at empowering women and girls through education, mentorship and skills development programmes.
Participants highlighted the importance of focusing on vulnerable groups such as widows, rural women and out-of-school girls by providing vocational training opportunities and sustainable mentorship initiatives.
Members also proposed internal skill acquisition programmes where INWOAD members could train others in areas such as baking, entrepreneurship and other vocational skills, as part of efforts to promote financial independence among women.
The meeting further recommended collaboration with community-based organisations to distribute sanitary pads to vulnerable adolescent girls in schools to encourage school attendance and reduce dropout rates.
Other issues discussed included child marriage, mental health support, maternal and reproductive healthcare, and the need to remove cultural and systemic barriers that limit women’s participation in leadership and development.
Participants also stressed the importance of stronger advocacy to ensure that funds allocated for youth and women development programmes are properly utilised to support vulnerable groups.
Meanwhile, the organisation’s National President, Evelyn Onyilo, announced the inauguration of a new management team tasked with coordinating INWOAD programmes and expanding its activities nationwide.
The 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 team 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 strengthen the organisation’s programmes and achieve its vision.
She also called for active cooperation among members in building a stronger organisation capable of delivering meaningful impact.
The meeting also explored strategies for sustaining the organisation’s initiatives through partnerships with philanthropists, corporate organisations and community-based empowerment programmes.
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 “Give to Gain” theme.
The organisation reaffirmed its commitment to promoting gender equality, improving economic opportunities for women, and expanding access to education and empowerment programmes for the girl child across Nigeria.
