Today marks a historic moment for women’s rights in Nigeria as the Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership (RWVL) Nigeria Project was officially launched in Abuja. The five-year initiative, funded with CAD15 million by Global Affairs Canada and implemented by ActionAid Nigeria in partnership with over 188 women’s rights organizations, seeks to dismantle systemic barriers to gender equality and amplify the voices of Nigerian women and girls.
The launch brought together a powerful gathering of stakeholders, including Pasquale Salvaggio, the Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Commissioners of Women Affairs from participating states, feminist leaders, grassroots organizations, and development partners.
Despite women making up nearly half of Nigeria’s population, their representation in leadership remains low, with only about 7% holding political offices. Women and girls continue to face limited access to economic opportunities, persistent gender-based violence, and heightened vulnerabilities during humanitarian crises, where they account for over 80% of the displaced.
The RWVL Project is designed to respond to these realities. It will strengthen women’s rights organizations, expand their participation in decision-making, and support more inclusive policies. It will also provide platforms for collaboration between government, civil society, private sector actors, and communities to build a gender-just Nigeria.
The project builds on the achievements of the Women’s Voice and Leadership (WVL) Project (2019–2024), which reached over seven million people and significantly boosted the visibility and influence of feminist organizations across the country. WVL played a critical role in increasing women’s participation in governance, supporting grassroots women’s economic empowerment, and amplifying marginalized voices. RWVL now takes this legacy forward with a renewed focus on strengthening feminist movements, investing in women’s rights organizations, and centering those most excluded, including women with disabilities and women in conflict-affected areas.
At the launch, the unveiling of the campaign banner #AllNigerianWomenMatter marked the first milestone of the RWVL strategy. The hashtag is more than a slogan. It is a unifying call designed to raise awareness, bring fragmented efforts together, and amplify the collective voice of women and girls across Nigeria.
Dr. Andrew Mamedu, Country Director of ActionAid Nigeria, emphasized that RWVL aligns with Nigeria’s renewed hope agenda and represents a call to action for all sectors from government institutions to grassroots movements. The Canadian High Commissioner reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to advancing gender equality globally, noting that the RWVL Project is part of its flagship Feminist International Assistance Policy.
The launch of RWVL signals not just the start of a project, but the continuation of a movement. Over the next five years, the initiative will strengthen partnerships, provide multi-year core funding to women’s rights organizations, create rapid response mechanisms for urgent issues, and support feminist advocacy at local, national, and global levels.
As the banner now raised declares, #AllNigerianWomenMatter. The journey has begun, and with collective effort, the future holds the promise of a more inclusive and gender-just Nigeria.