Group launches grassroot empowerment for women 

In a move aimed at bridging the socio-economic gap for women and youth across Nigeria, the New Dawn for Women and Community Intervention Initiative (NEWOMCII) was officially launched on Tuesday. The event, which was held in Abuja, drew an audience of royal fathers, government stakeholders, and development partners, and served as a rallying cry for […]

In a move aimed at bridging the socio-economic gap for women and youth across Nigeria, the New Dawn for Women and Community Intervention Initiative (NEWOMCII) was officially launched on Tuesday.

The event, which was held in Abuja, drew an audience of royal fathers, government stakeholders, and development partners, and served as a rallying cry for structured, grassroots-driven empowerment.

Addressing the gathering, the Founder and Chairman of NEWOMCII, Alhaji Bolaji Raji, described the organisation’s birth as a direct response to the “unseen potential” locked within Nigeria’s local communities.

Reflecting on the rationale behind the initiative, Alhaji Raji noted that while talent is abundant at the grassroots level, the infrastructure to support it is often non-existent.

“We saw the gap. We saw the need,” Raji stated. “A simple but powerful reality inspired the birth of NEWOMCII: across our communities, many women and young people possess immense potential, yet lack access to the tools and support systems needed to succeed.”

He emphasized that NEWOMCII is designed to complement government efforts rather than replace them, serving as a catalyst for practical, demand-driven capacity building.

Unlike many organizations that focus on theoretical advocacy, Raji highlighted that NEWOMCII has already been operational for ten months, refining its approach to community intervention.

The initiative’s strategy is built on four core pillars of agribusiness: art and creative enterprise; skills development; and community interventions.

“When women are empowered, families thrive, and communities progress. This belief is not just a statement—it is a proven pathway to sustainable development,” the NEWOMCII Founder told those present.

The launch concluded with the unveiling of the organization’s published works, signaling its readiness to transition from a startup phase to a national player in Nigeria’s NGO landscape.

In her welcome address, NEWOMCII National Coordinator, Hajia Saadati Bokane Adamu, noted that since its inception, it has impacted the lives of rural women.

According to her, this provides a platform to showcase success stories, articulate the vision, and forge partnerships.

“In the short period of existence, we have positively affected the lives and livelihoods of several women groups and communities,” Hajia Adamu noted, pledging to replicate these successes nationwide.

She expressed gratitude for the robust attendance and invited stakeholders to collaborate. “We appreciate your presence and look forward to working with you all in different capacities as we impact the lives of our women and communities,” she added.

In the first keynote address, Managing Partner, Liberty Law Firm, Monrovia, Tupee Enid Taylor, stressed that women are drivers of transformation.

The former Liberian first lady noted that lack of access and support has held back women from fulfilling their potential.

“Across the African continent, we have long understood a simple truth. When a woman is empowered, her family is strengthened, her communities prosper.

“Women are not just participants in development; they are drivers of transformation and lasting change. Yet, despite their immense contributions, many women, especially at the grassroots, were continually faced with barriers such as limited access to finance, lack of opportunities and infrastructure, restricted opportunities for growth, lack of required support, and cultural norms. These are not just challenges; they are missed opportunities for all nations.

“What we see today across our communities is not a lack of diversity, it is a lack of access. Women are working, women are creating, and women are building. But without the right support system, these efforts cannot  each their full potential.”

In the second keynote address, Director General, National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPPS), Prof. Ayo Omotayo, said women are strategic to the development of any society.

He said: “We must change the narrative from seeing women as vulnerable to seeing them as a source of strategic human value. When we invest in a woman, we are not just performing social work. We are making a high-growth economic investment that exceeds maybe the maximum tax we have set.”

The Director General, who was represented by Zubairu Jide Attah, urged NEWOMCII not to rest on its oars but strive to establish its footprint across Nigeria.

“Do not let this momentum, the momentum of this launch, fade,” he added.