The Womanifesto, a coalition of more than 300 women’s organisations, has commenced the implementation of the Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership (RWVL) Nigeria Project, an initiative aimed at strengthening grassroots women’s movements, amplifying the voices of survivors, and promoting accountability for gender equality and the enforcement of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) laws across the country.
The project, supported by ActionAid Nigeria under the Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership programme, will initially be implemented in Lagos, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Enugu State.
Speaking on the initiative, Womanifesto Co-Convener, Dr Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi, said the project seeks to build a stronger and more coordinated feminist movement that empowers women and survivors to lead advocacy efforts and hold institutions accountable.
She said the intervention was developed in response to the persistent challenges faced by women and survivors despite the existence of legal frameworks such as the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act.
According to her, weak enforcement of existing laws, inadequate institutional responses, harmful social norms, stigma, and limited access to justice continue to deprive many survivors of the protection and support they require.
Dr Akiyode-Afolabi described the initiative as a significant step towards institutionalising a feminist movement that places survivors and grassroots women at the centre of advocacy, leadership and decision-making.
She explained that the project would strengthen women’s agency by linking grassroots activists with national advocacy platforms, improving engagement with government institutions, promoting issue-based advocacy, expanding media engagement, and supporting policy reforms aimed at protecting the rights of women and girls.
As part of the initiative, Womanifesto plans to map and document more than 1,000 grassroots women activists, survivors, students, labour groups, civil society organisations, as well as gender equality policies and laws across Nigeria. The exercise is expected to create a comprehensive national database and coordination platform to enhance collaboration and facilitate rapid collective action.
The project will also establish a Feminist Action Alert system and dedicated WhatsApp communities to support timely information sharing, emergency response and coordinated advocacy on issues affecting women and girls. Community dialogues, safe spaces, mentorship programmes, peer learning sessions and media engagement activities will also be organised to equip women activists and survivors with leadership skills and the capacity to challenge harmful social norms.
In addition, the initiative will focus on strengthening the institutional capacity of Womanifesto through legal registration, improved governance structures, increased visibility and strategic partnerships to ensure the sustainability of the movement beyond the project’s duration.
Dr Akiyode-Afolabi called on government institutions, civil society organisations, development partners, traditional and religious leaders, media practitioners and the public to support the initiative by promoting survivor-centred justice, strengthening the enforcement of gender equality laws, and creating safer communities where women and girls can live free from violence and discrimination.
The Renewed Women’s Voice and Leadership Project will run from April to December 2026 and is expected to contribute to the development of an institutionalised feminist network that amplifies women’s voices, strengthens grassroots organising and promotes accountability at community, state and national levels.
