Abuja: A non-governmental organisation, Plan International Nigeria, has announced a strategic partnership with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) to bolster advocacy efforts for women and youths in Bauchi and Sokoto States. The collaboration was formalized through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the NGO’s Director of Programme Quality and Influencing, Dr. Helen Idiong, explained that the partnership aims to enhance advocacy, increase visibility, and strengthen capacity building for women’s rights and youth-led organisations in the targeted regions. This initiative is part of Plan International Nigeria’s Adolescent Girls and Young Women’s Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (ASPIRE) project, which aspires to impact 20 million girls over five years.
Idiong noted that the ASPIRE project, funded by Global Affairs Canada, seeks to remove barriers to sexual and reproductive health and rights for adolescent girls and young women. The project also aims to promote gender equality and inclusive participation in decision-making by fostering an environment where local organisations can thrive.
Idiong emphasized the importance of addressing issues such as poverty, discrimination, and patriarchal barriers that affect girls, asserting that removing these obstacles will improve the lives of girls and, consequently, society as a whole. She highlighted the critical role women play in narrating their own stories and the importance of women’s voices in telling the stories of their communities accurately.
The organisation’s programmes include policy engagement and partnership building to address systemic barriers, amplify girls’ voices, and create an enabling environment where children and young people, especially girls, can learn, lead, decide, and thrive. These efforts aim to ensure that the priorities of girls shape public discourse and advance their rights in policy and practice.
In her remarks, the National President of NAWOJ, Aisha Ibrahim, lauded the initiative, emphasizing its commitment to promoting gender equality and the rights of every child. Ibrahim stated that NAWOJ is actively involved in advocacy on societal and humanitarian issues, particularly focusing on vulnerable groups like orphans and children in need.
Ibrahim described the partnership as a manifestation of a shared vision to create a world where children and girls can thrive, where their voices are heard, and their rights upheld. She expressed optimism that the collaborative framework of the ASPIRE project will implement strategic capacity-building initiatives to empower local women’s rights and youth-led organisations, enhancing their skills and impact.
Plan International, an independent development and humanitarian organisation founded over 85 years ago, continues to advance children’s rights and equality for girls, reinforcing its commitment through this new partnership with NAWOJ.