The Nigeria Governor’s Forum(NGF) has inaugurated Community Of Practice(COP) for Commissioners of Women Affairs in the country.
Speaking during a Keynote Address, the Chairman of the Nigeria Governor’s Forum (NGF)and sitting Governor of Kwara State, His Excellency, Gov. Abdulrasaq Abdulrahman explained that, the new collaborative platform is designed to Empower Commissioners, gender advocates, and technical experts to join forces in addressing challenges, sharing best practices and driving accelerated actions for women’s, while noting that, the focus will span political participation, economic inclusion, protection for gender based violence and access to essential services.
“Today represents a remarkable milestone in our ongoing commitment to achieving Gender Equality and the empowerment of Women and Girls across Nigeria.
Our collective efforts have brought together dedication, resources, and strategic initiatives to make gender inclusion an essential component of governance and development at all levels “.
This event, the Governor continued, marks an essential step forward as Commissioners of Women Affairs from every State come together, pooling their expertise and determination to pursue a shared vision for lasting progress.
The NGF Chairman who further said Six States were initially piloted noted that the program has now expanded its operations to 31 States, reflecting widespread acceptance and implementation across Nigeria.
” The Forum’s newly created Gender Affairs Department is to provide technical assistance to the sub-national focusing on Gender Equality and Social Inclusion and has developed a comprehensive Gender Equality and Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Strategic Plan 2025-2029, which is aligned with the National Gender Policy, the national WEE policy, and the sustainable targets for mainstreaming gender perspectives in governance, budget processes, and legal reforms throughout the country.”
Earlier in his Opening Remarks, the Director General, (NGF) Dr.Abdulareef Shittu maintained that, the NGF remains strongly committed to strengthening gender equity, inclusive governance, and the economic empowerment of Women across all States.
We recognise that, he continued, ” sustainable development is possible when half of the population is left behind, and that empowering women creates a multiplier effect that touches households, communities, and entire state economies “.
The launch of this Community Of Practice (COP) reflects our belief that collaboration not isolation is the gateway to real progress. ” States are doing incredible work, but we know that exchanging lessons, aligning strategies, and building a unified voice will significantly accelerate impact. ”
” We appreciate the partnership of the Gates Foundation and all our development collaborators who have supported this vision. The work ahead requires resolve, coordination, and unwavering commitment. But with this platform, I am confident we have taken a major step forward.”
The Dean of Commissioners of Women, and Commissioner for Women Affairs, Cross River State, Hon. Edema Irom posited that, as Commissioners for Women Affairs, we are uniquely positioned at the heart of communities where policies meet real lives and where the promise of national commitments must translate into meaningful change for women and girls in every state.
Today, she continued, ” we collectively affirm our commitment to among others; driving the domestication and full implementation of the National Womens Economic Empowerment (WEE) policy across all 36 States and the FCT, Strengthening coordination with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs , the NGF and development partners to ensure that our interventions evidence based, inclusive and impactful, and championing data-driven programmes, including those that are part of the Nigeria For Women Project ( NFWP), and ensuring that women at the grassroots level benefits from economic opportunities and social protection.
The purpose of the COP is to create a dynamic platform for States Commissioners of Women Affairs to collaborate, exchange knowledge, and champion evidence based innovative solutions that accelerate gender equality and women’s empowerment throughout Nigeria.
The Press release was written by Yunusa Tanko Abdullahi
Director, Media$ Strategic Communications NGF.
