The Wura Hope Women Initiative Secures NYFF Support for the SWiLG Project and Women Accountability Network in Kwara State
Earlier in March, during the global commemoration of the 2025 International Women’s Day (IWD) themed “Accelerate Action”, The Wura Hope Women Initiative (WHI) launched the Women Accountability Network (WAN) with a week-long radio tour across Abuja-FCT. WAN was established to address one of Nigeria’s most pressing governance gaps: the lack of structured platforms for women to influence decision-making, demand accountability, and drive community-led change.
Today, WHI is proud to announce the support of the Nigeria Youth Futures Fund (NYFF), a collaborative programme of LEAP Africa, the MacArthur Foundation, and the Ford Foundation for our flagship project, Strengthening Women’s Participation in Local Governance (SWiLG), with WAN as a key operational component.
Why This Matters
Across Nigeria, women disproportionately bear the costs when governance fails, whether in healthcare, education, access to water, or security. Yet, women’s voices are too often absent in decision-making spaces. WAN changes this story.
By equipping women with advocacy tools, oversight skills, and leadership platforms, WAN is ensuring that women are not just beneficiaries of government policies but active architects of accountability and inclusive governance.
What We Are Building in Kwara State
• 12 Women Accountability Network (WANs) to be established across 12 LGAs.
• 150 women leaders to be trained in governance, advocacy, budget monitoring, and community engagement.
• 180+ women leaders to be deployed as accountability champions and community needs fact-finders.
• Quarterly town halls bring women and government officials face-to-face.
• Outreach campaigns via radio, community meetings, and digital platforms, reaching over 1 million citizens.
Leadership Voice
“Women bear the brunt of governance failure most directly. WAN will ensure that women are not just beneficiaries of government policies but active architects of accountability and inclusive governance.” — Rasheed Adeniyi Yusuf, Executive Director, WHI
The Bigger Picture
The launch of SWiLG and WAN comes at a pivotal time. Following the July 2024 Supreme Court ruling on local government autonomy, Local Government councils are receiving increased financial resources. Without accountability, these resources risk being mismanaged. WAN is here to ensure they are invested where they are needed most, in communities, schools, hospitals, and families.
In line with IWD 2025’s theme “Accelerate Action”, WHI and NYFF are proving that Nigerian women are not waiting a century for gender parity. They are stepping forward now to lead accountability, strengthen communities, and shape a more inclusive democratic future.
Stay Connected, Join the Movement
Follow our journey as we build women-led accountability in governance and community resilience. Together, we can create TheNigeriaWeWant, where governance truly works for the people.
Rasheed Adeniyi Yusuf is the Founder and Executive Director of The Wura Hope Women’s Initiative, a leading advocate for peace-building through maternal wisdom and women’s leadership. With decades of strategic research experience spanning global leadership dynamics, defence policy, and military operations, Yusuf has served as a researcher’s assistant at Nigeria’s premier military institutions, including the National Defence College, Army War College, Air War College, and Naval War College. His expertise in strategic leadership and economic analysis, combined with his studies in International Relations, positions him uniquely to address complex issues of national reconciliation and transformation. Through The Wura Hope Women’s Initiative, he champions the Mother Love: Heart of Peace framework as a proven way forward to sustainable conflict resolution and national development.