The Government of Canada has committed 15.75 million Canadian dollars to 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, promote gender equality, and tackle gender-based violence nationwide.
At the launch in Abuja, ActionAid Nigeria Country Director, Andrew Mamedu, outlined the project’s ambitious targets. He said the initiative would directly impact 350,000 women and indirectly reach 2.7 million through the support of 188 women-led organisations across community, local government, and state levels. While the project will focus on eight states, innovation funds will extend interventions nationwide.
“This includes women with disabilities, women facing gender-based violence, those in leadership and politics, and those struggling with exclusion or discrimination,” Mamedu said, adding that ActionAid would partner with government agencies, civil society, and development partners to maximise impact.
Canadian High Commissioner to Nigeria, Pasquale Salvaggio, reaffirmed Canada’s commitment to advancing gender equality. “We are delighted to support this initiative that highlights Nigeria’s women and girls as drivers of change—entrepreneurs, educators, health workers, human rights defenders, and peacebuilders,” he said.
Globally, Canada’s Women’s Voice and Leadership programme has supported more than 2,200 women’s rights and feminist organisations across 30 countries.
“This investment will be delivered nationally with strong focus on localisation, inclusion, and sustainability,” Salvaggio added.
