Abuja: Dr Ruqqaya Ahmed, the newly appointed President of Guardian Girls Nigeria (GGN), has announced her priority to establish a functional structure that will extend the organisation’s programmes and impact across Nigeria. Ahmed discussed her plans in an interview with News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), detailing efforts to strengthen the organisation’s presence and support for women and girls nationwide.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Guardian Girls International, founded by Japanese actor Shin Koyamada and a strategic partner of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) since 2019, recently appointed Ahmed to lead operations in Nigeria. The organisation teaches self-defence skills to girls and collaborates with police gender units to ensure reports of abuse are acted upon, operating in 27 countries worldwide.
Ahmed, who is also Acting Chairperson of Koyamada International Foundation Nigeria, noted that her appointment recognises 16 years of experience in humanitarian service and social-impact initiatives across various communities. Her previous leadership roles with non-governmental organisations, including Pink October and Queen’s Care and Empowerment Foundation, alongside private-sector experience, significantly contributed to her selection for leadership. She described the appointment as both encouraging and rewarding.
Ahmed expressed her responsibility to provide leadership that would enable Guardian Girls Nigeria and Koyamada International Foundation Nigeria to achieve their missions and expand their impact effectively across the nation. She emphasized the organisation’s commitment to addressing gender-based violence while promoting gender equality and empowerment opportunities for women.
According to Ahmed, the organisation will launch six programmes: Guardian Girls Defence, Guardian Girls Police, Nigerian Women’s Dialogue, Holy Women Initiative, Isese Initiative, and Amana Women Initiative. Guardian Girls Defence will collaborate with the Nigerian Karate Federation and other martial arts organisations to equip women and girls with practical self-defence skills against violence.
Guardian Girls Police will work directly with gender units of the Nigeria Police Force to encourage prompt responses to reports of violence against women and girls. The programme also aims to ensure survivors of physical or sexual assault receive appropriate support while perpetrators are held accountable through lawful processes.
Ahmed stated that the Nigerian Women’s Dialogue would gather stakeholders to discuss issues affecting women and develop practical solutions to advance their welfare and opportunities. The three community-based initiatives will help extend the organisation’s reach across religious and cultural groups nationwide.
According to Ahmed, the Holy Women Initiative has partnered with the Catholic Federation, while the Isese Women Initiative will engage women in traditional religious communities. The Amana Women Initiative will work with Muslim communities to support programme implementation that benefits women and girls effectively.
Ahmed highlighted that the programmes are designed to empower women and girls through self-defence training, skills acquisition, education opportunities, and financial empowerment initiatives for sustainable development nationwide. The ultimate goal is for Guardian Girls Nigeria to have a meaningful presence not only nationally but also within communities across the country, creating a safer society by empowering women and girls with knowledge, skills, and opportunities to protect themselves and improve their wellbeing.