IWD: CTA urges women to use FoIA in anti-corruption fight

The Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) and other stakeholders have called on Nigerian women to leverage the Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) 2011 in combating corruption in the country. They also said that the FoIA can help address obstacles and biases faced by women across various spheres. They made the at a town hall meeting […]

The Centre for Transparency Advocacy (CTA) and other stakeholders have called on Nigerian women to leverage the Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) 2011 in combating corruption in the country.

They also said that the FoIA can help address obstacles and biases faced by women across various spheres.

They made the at a town hall meeting on the application of FoIA, organised by the CTA in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Justice and the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) on Friday in Abuja.

Speaking at the event with the theme, ‘Leveraging FOIA to Promote Women’s Rights and Inclusion in the Fight Against Corruption’, the CTA’s Executive Director, Engr. Faith Nwadishi, noted the vital role women play in fostering transparency but noted that many face challenges in engaging with the FoIA.

She said the event was designed specifically to coincide with the commemoration of the 2025 International Women’s Day (IWD).

She stated that information sharing is a key step in utilizing the act effectively.

“The event explores how FOIA promotes women’s rights, equity, and inclusion in the fight against corruption, aligning with the 2024 International Women’s Day theme,” Nwadishi said.

The meeting highlighted the Strengthening Accountability and Governance in Nigeria Initiative (SAGNI), a project supported by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption Programme (RoLAC) and funded by the European Union through International IDEA.

Delivering the keynote address, the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi SAN, noted that increasing the use of FoIA by Nigerian women would help eliminate systemic obstacles in both personal and professional spheres.

Fagbemi was represented by Mr Garuba Godwin, Head of the FOI Unit at the Ministry.

“Women should leverage on the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act, 2011 to accelerate their inclusion in the activities of the President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

“The President is very ready to improve women’s involvement in the governance of this great country. The fight to accelerate action should not be left for the women alone.

“The other gender must ensure that women are not discriminated against as both genders have equal right before the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

“According to this year’s slogan, ‘Let’s Accelerate Action for Gender Equality’, all hands must be on deck to ensure gender inclusivity in human endeavour,” he said.

The Special Adviser to the Minister of Youth Development, Kehinde Charity Awujoola, commended CTA’s advocacy efforts.

She reiterated that access to information is crucial for women’s empowerment, stating,

She said, “The FOIA is a powerful tool for gender equality and social justice, enabling women to access government information and participate fully in governance.”

Also speaking, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, emphasised that women’s rights, gender equality, and inclusion were causes deeply important to her.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim, represented by Emem Maria Offiong, noted that as Nigeria joined the world in marking the IWD, it was crucial to highlight the ministry’s commitment to collaboration and creating an enabling environment for these ideals to thrive.

“To achieve this, we need to create more awareness about the Freedom of Information Act, reshape public perception of the Act, and explore various ways to apply it effectively,” she said.