The Government of Canada has announced a pledge of 15.75 million Canadian dollars to support the second phase of the Women’s Voice and Leadership Nigeria (WVL-N) Project, implemented by ActionAid Nigeria.
The five-year initiative aims to strengthen women’s rights organisations, advance gender equality, and tackle gender-based violence across the country.
Speaking at the project launch in Abuja on Thursday, ActionAid Nigeria Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, said the programme plans to directly reach 350,000 women and indirectly impact 2.7 million through 188 women-led organisations working at community, local government, and state levels.
He explained that while the project will operate in eight focus states, innovation and strategic funds will allow interventions to extend nationwide. These funds, he said, can be accessed within 48 hours to address emergency issues.
Mamedu noted that the programme will target diverse groups, including women with disabilities, poor and excluded women, survivors of gender-based violence, women in politics and leadership, and those striving to improve their livelihoods. He added that ActionAid would collaborate with stakeholders at federal and state levels, as well as development partners, to ensure impact.
Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pasquale Salvaggio, reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to gender equality, describing Nigerian women and girls as “drivers of change” in their communities.
“We are absolutely delighted to support this new initiative that demonstrates Canada’s commitment to gender equality in Nigeria. It matters because Nigerian women and girls are entrepreneurs, educators, health workers, human rights defenders, policy advocates, and peace builders,” Salvaggio said.
He highlighted the global reach of the Women’s Voice and Leadership programme, which has supported over 2,200 women’s rights and feminist organisations in more than 30 countries, adding that Canada’s investment in Nigeria will focus on localisation, inclusion, and sustainability.
