Reflecting on 25 Years of Women for Women International in Nigeria

In 2003, Women for Women International Nigeria established an office in Jos, Nigeria, in response to the extreme poverty faced by communities and families at that time. Despite the unimaginable hardships, the women refused to give up. For the past 25 years, we have been helping women rebuild their lives with dignity, confidence and hope. Through our programmes, women acquire the skills, knowledge and resources needed to strengthen their economic independence, support their families and take on stronger roles as voices and leaders in their communities.

I, Bukola Onyishi, began my journey with Women for Women International Nigeria in 2001, starting as a field officer and becoming the Country Director in 2016.

I often think about the pregnant woman fleeing from violence, the young girl managing her period in a displacement camp, the elderly woman and the woman living with a disability who has nowhere safe to turn. These are not just abstract statistics; they represent real lives, real experiences and powerful reasons why this work must continue.

Today, the intensity of conflict and insecurity has sadly increased, affecting far too many communities across our country. Women like Abigail Danladi, a participant in our programme, often bear the heaviest burdens, striving to hold families together through unimaginable loss and hardship. Unfortunately, our work is more relevant now than ever before.

Amid these harsh realities, I have witnessed extraordinary courage. I have met women who arrived in our programme filled with fear, trauma and uncertainty. By the end of the 12-month programme, I have seen them rebuild their confidence, start businesses, educate their children, become leaders in their communities and rediscover hope. These transformations have been the greatest privilege of my journey with this organisation. They remind me that when a woman is given the opportunity, tools and support to succeed, she transforms not only her own life but also the lives of her family and community.

As Nigeria's social and economic landscape has changed, our programming has evolved as well. We have developed a comprehensive empowerment model that includes financial literacy, livelihood development, leadership training, advocacy, social protection and community engagement. This approach goes beyond vocational skills training and savings groups. Our integrated method has enabled thousands of women to transition from mere survival to building sustainable, self-sufficient futures. 

Over the past 25 years, every milestone has been made possible by dedicated employees, community leaders, partners and donors who believe in women's potential and power. Their unwavering commitment has allowed us to operate in Nigeria's most vulnerable communities and create lasting change despite numerous challenges. Together we have: 

• Supported more than 114,652 women across 120 communities in Enugu, Plateau, Kaduna, Bauchi, Cross River and Benue States. 
• Supported 150 girls through the Adolescent Girls’ Programme, which we launched in November 2024. 
• Engaged over 17,567 male leaders and relatives of participants through our Men's Engagement Programme, fostering greater understanding of women's rights and economic participation. 

As I look to the future, our work is far from complete. Too many women are still enduring conflict and crisis. However, I remain hopeful because I have witnessed the impact of people coming together with compassion, commitment and purpose.