ERC DIRECTOR ADVOCATES FOR INCREASED PROGRAMMES TO EMPOWER WOMEN
By: Odugbo Sarah.
As part of activities marking the celebration of International Women’s Day and ongoing conversations on women’s inclusion, the Director of the Education Resource Centre, Dr. Neemat Daud Abdulrahim, has joined other notable voices in advocating for the expansion of programmes that promote women’s empowerment and inclusion.
Speaking as a panelist at the WikiGap Campaign 2026, she emphasized the urgent need to create more platforms and opportunities that will enable women and girls to develop their capacities, contribute meaningfully to society, and take up leadership roles across various sectors.
According to her, empowering women goes beyond advocacy and must translate into deliberate, structured programmes that provide access to education, mentorship, skills acquisition, and digital opportunities.
She stressed that girls must be encouraged to prepare themselves adequately and position themselves to take advantage of the numerous opportunities available in today’s rapidly evolving world.
Dr. Abdulrahim further noted that the call for increased opportunities for girls is more critical now than ever before, given the growing demand for innovation, creativity, and inclusiveness in national development. She highlighted that intentional investment in girls’ education and empowerment would yield long-term benefits for families, communities, and the nation at large.
Focusing on the education sector, she pointed out that girls in Federal Capital Territory schools are demonstrating remarkable potential, particularly in science, technology, and digital innovation. She commended their creativity and ingenuity, especially in areas related to digital inclusion, and called for sustained support to nurture and scale these talents.
She reiterated that mentorship remains a critical tool in unlocking opportunities for young girls. According to her, mentorship provides guidance, builds confidence, and enhances visibility, enabling girls to gain the knowledge, experience, and exposure required to excel in their chosen fields. She encouraged experienced professionals, institutions, and organizations to invest time and resources in mentoring the next generation of female leaders.
Dr. Abdulrahim also called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders, including government agencies, educational institutions, non-governmental organizations, and development partners, to expand mentorship initiatives for girls in the FCT. She stressed that such partnerships are essential for creating sustainable pathways for empowerment.
She further stated that increasing awareness of women’s contributions across different sectors must be intensified to promote visibility.
Also sharing her electoral experience, the Senator representing Kogi Central, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, stated that women can overcome the challenges on their path if they remain determined and focused. She advised that women should not be overwhelmed by the numerous issues associated with elections, but rather stay resilient and strategic. She further emphasized the importance of connecting with grassroots communities, noting that building strong relationships at the grassroots level is key to gaining support and achieving success in the political space.
She explained that women must tell their own stories to inspire young girls, this according to her will help dismantle stereotypes and societal barriers that limit women’s participation.
She concluded by urging policymakers and stakeholders to prioritize gender-inclusive policies, invest in girl-child education, and create enabling environments where women can thrive.
She reaffirmed that empowering women is not just a social responsibility but a strategic necessity for national growth and development pledging her continuous support to women programmes.
The Ambassador of Sweden Embassy,Anna Westerholm along with Mr.Olushola Olaniyan, the President/Chairman of the Wikimedia Nigeria Foundation, and Mrs Ogunsiji Omolayo, Executive Director of the Wikimedia Nigeria Foundation, expressed delight at the active participation of the Stakeholders. They assured of fruitful collaborations on women’s issues by creating awareness, promoting women inclusion,research and writing skills, strengthening training, mentorship, and knowledge documentation initiatives, among others.
The Participants include the National Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), among other Stakeholders.
