Madam Zainab Aliyu, 46 years old from Kebbi State, thought all hope was lost and tried to end her life few years ago when she lost her two children and her husband ran away from home, but for the intervention of ActionAid Nigeria Women Voice and Leadership Nigeria (WVL-N) project with support from Global Affairs Canada. She got her life back and she is also impacting on other women in her neighborhood through the project. ADEOLA AKINBOBOLA writes.
Zainab thought all hope was lost when all her children died mysteriously and her husband ran away to settle with another woman.
According to her, she thought of ending it all by killing herself when her friend introduced her to the ActionAid Women’s Voice and Leadership Nigeria (WVL-N) project, a transformative initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada where she joined a group under the Association of Women Living with HIV and AIDs in Nigeria, Kebbi Chapter (ASWHAN) and learnt different skills. Zainab can now boast of training other women to be self employed.
At first, Zainab didn’t believe she could get her life back because she was unemployed and solely depended on her husband.
According to her, after the (WVL-N) training, she now own a shop where she does tailoring and makes pastries and she now fend for her siblings and also cater for her aged parents.
She has also impacted on the women in the area to be self employed through the training by teaching them on how to make dresses and pastries.
Need for capital
In her words “It is only God that can reward ActionAid. I urged them to help us with more capital so that we can improve our business and impact on those behind us .
“I wasn’t doing anything before but now I have learnt tailoring, snacks and I earn like 5k to 6k daily . Now I take good care of myself and also help those around me,” she said.
Since its inception in 2019, the WVL-N project has been driven by an unwavering commitment to empower women, challenge entrenched cultural practices, and promote gender equality.
Provision of direct support to 725,147 women, girls across communities in 18 LGAs
During the WVL-Nigeria project closeout and dissemination ceremony in Kebbi state recently, the Deputy Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria, Hajiya Suwaiba Muhammad Dankabo who represented the Country Director, Andrew Mamedu said through the invaluable support of Global Affairs Canada and the collaborative efforts of over 100 Women’s Rights Organizations inclusive of the 3 Local Women’s Rights Organisations and 12 Community Based Organisations here in Kebbi state, we have provided direct support to 725,147 women and girls across communities in 18 LGAs.
Suwaiba explained that these interventions have touched the lives of countless women, girls, persons with disability and their families.
According to her, from providing safe spaces and legal support for survivors of gender-based violence to promoting women’s economic empowerment and justice as well as enhancing their participation in leadership roles, the impact of our work is evident in the transformed lives and strengthened communities we see today.
She said “as we reflect on our journey, it is essential to recognize the invaluable contributions of every individual and organization, especially the partners involved in the implementation of the project.”
She explained that the end of this phase is not the end of our efforts; it is a new beginning. So, as we celebrate our collective achievements, let us look forward to the future with reinforced hope and determination.
Key successes and outcomes of the project
The Minister of Women Affairs, Bar, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye said the close-out ceremony is essentially organized to review, take stocks and highlight key successes and outcomes on the implementation of the Women Voice and Leadership Nigeria Project in Kebbi State.
The Minister who was represented by the Assistant Director of the ministry, Nasir Baba Saleh lauded the completion of the project which has brought about acceleration on the increase of women’s voice, their participation and visibility in leadership positions especially in the seven states that participated in the programme in Enugu, Lagos, Cross- River, Kwara, Kebbi, Gombe and FCT in Nigeria.
The Program Manager of ActionAid Nigeria, Niri Goyit explained that the donor for the 5 years project was Global Affairs Canada (GAC) and was implemented by ActionAid Nigeria with partners from 3 LWROs and 12 CBOs.
N291,371,514.87 grant
The project was implemented across 18 LGAs in Kebbi State with financial investment made to partners via granting which was worth N291,371,514.87 .
The Tailoring capacity building was trainings ,Technical support , Mentoring and coaching and supervisory monitoring.
Results and achievements across intervention/thematic areas, 15 partners currently demonstrate capacity to implement Women’s Rights and feminist interventions in Kebbi State.
Results and achievements of the project
Addressing Gender Based Violence Against Women and Girls , 273 cases were handled, 28 court judgments won, 77 GBV survivors provided with economic empowerment, 2 safe shelters in the state supported by the WVL project , 44 854 students reached with SRGBV sensitization and on prevention and response to SRGBV.
Others are 2,715 school teachers and management reached with sensitization on prevention and response to SRGBV, 18 schools reached with sensitization on SRGBV prevention and response amongst others .
Also, the Wakirin Gwandu of Kebbi state, Alhaji Abdullahi Umar also lauded the project adding that there are more women in Nigeria than men as it is therefore imperative that women are brought in the scheme of things.
He said the program is apt to bring women into the lime light and ensure that they are empowered.
