Prominent gender advocates in Nigeria are demanding a significant increase in the participation of young women in the country's decision-making processes. This collective call to action was made during a high-profile event in the nation's capital, celebrating the Ford Foundation's 65 years of dedicated work in promoting social justice and equity across Nigeria and West Africa.
A Celebration of Commitment and a Call for Change
The gathering, organized by TechHer NG, served as both a celebration and a platform for urgent dialogue. ChiChi Aniagolu-Okoye, the Regional Director for the Ford Foundation, used the occasion to reiterate the foundation's unwavering commitment to amplifying the voices of the vulnerable. She powerfully stated the Foundation's core belief in the agency of women, particularly young women, as a driving force for societal progress.
"We believe in the agency of women, especially young women, and TechHer has been at the centre of that," Aniagolu-Okoye declared. She emphasized that TechHer's work is crucial because it ensures young feminists have a platform, their issues are brought to the forefront, and they can directly influence the decisions that shape their lives and the nation.
Grassroots Solutions and Shrinking Civic Space
Aniagolu-Okoye further explained that empowering young people is fundamental to building an inclusive Nigerian society that leaves no one behind, especially its most marginalized groups like women. She highlighted the Ford Foundation's strategy of partnering with grassroots organizations, asserting that the people closest to a problem are the ones who hold the solutions.
Echoing these sentiments, Chioma Agwuegbo, the Executive Director of TechHerNG, applauded the Ford Foundation's long-standing support for the wider civil society movement in Nigeria. However, she urged fellow advocates to use the anniversary as a moment for critical self-reflection on the challenges facing civil society organizations.
Agwuegbo pointed to pressing issues such as civic suppression, the shrinking civic space, and the silencing of dissenting voices as major threats to their work. "How are we surviving in a civil society in Nigeria?" she questioned, framing the 65th anniversary as the perfect time for civil society to assess its current state and resilience.
The Path Forward for Nigerian Women and Civil Society
The event underscored a unified front between donors and implementers in the fight for gender equality and social justice. The central message was clear: for Nigeria to achieve meaningful and sustainable development, it must actively create space for its young women at every decision-making table. The advocates argue that this is not just a matter of fairness but a strategic imperative for nation-building, ensuring that policies and national direction are shaped by the entire populace, not just a select few.
The discussions also served as a stark reminder of the operational hurdles that civil society must overcome. The call to interrogate the shrinking civic space indicates a broader struggle for the survival of independent voices and organizations dedicated to holding power accountable and advocating for the rights of all Nigerians, particularly its women and youth.
