ActionAid, Canadian agency empower 1.5m women, girls in Bauchi

ActionAid Nigeria, in partnership with Global Affairs Canada, has empowered over 1.5 million women, girls and People with Disability through the Women’s Voice and Leadership Nigeria (WVL-N) project in Bauchi State. At the closure and dissemination ceremony held on Tuesday in Bauchi, Andrew Mamedu, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, highlighted the project’s significant impact, saying […]

ActionAid Nigeria, in partnership with Global Affairs Canada, has empowered over 1.5 million women, girls and People with Disability through the Women’s Voice and Leadership Nigeria (WVL-N) project in Bauchi State.

At the closure and dissemination ceremony held on Tuesday in Bauchi, Andrew Mamedu, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, highlighted the project’s significant impact, saying it invested N357,633,398.44 to benefit women, girls and other recipients.

Mamedu, represented by Hajiya Suwaiba Muhammad Dankabo, deputy country director, said, “These interventions have impacted countless women, girls, PWDs and their families. We’ve provided safe spaces and legal support for survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV), promoted economic empowerment and justice for women and enhanced their participation in leadership roles. The success of our efforts is visible in the transformed lives and strengthened communities we witness today.

“With the invaluable support of Global Affairs Canada and the collaboration of over 100 women’s rights organisations, including one network organisation, three local women’s rights organisations and 12 community-based organisations in Bauchi State, we have directly supported 517,365 women and girls across 18 LGAs.”

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He further said, “Through economic programmes like the Village Savings and Loans Association (VSLA), 365 groups have been formed and over N297,408,254.00 has been saved by women in Bauchi State. This achievement reflects the power of collaboration and the dedication of all our partners, stakeholders and community members, supported by the state government.”

Reflecting on the project’s five-year journey from 2019 to 2024, WVL-N’s Project Manager, Niri Goyit, reported that 413,008 cases of GBV were addressed, 393,973 women’s economic empowerment and justice programmes implemented and 194,344 women achieved political participation and leadership.

Bauchi State Governor, Bala Mohammed, represented by the Commissioner for Youth and Sports, Muhammad Salis Gamawa, expressed gratitude to ActionAid Nigeria and Global Affairs Canada for their transformative interventions, particularly in entrepreneurship skills that had improved the economic fortunes of thousands of women in the state.