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Programs
We offer a range of support programs on skills acquisition and capacity development, mentorship, coaching opportunities and more.
Our Programs Includes
WOMEN'S RIGHTS ADVOCACY
Women’s rights have been recognized and guaranteed in all International Human Rights Instruments as being inalienable, interdependent and indivisible human rights. It is therefore very crucial to ensure that these rights are fulfilled. Unless the rights of women and girls are recognized, promoted and included in the development process in Nigeria, it will be difficult to address the challenges of poverty and social exclusion. Poverty will definitely increase if women are shutout of the development process and thus denied the rights of citizens.
We at OWYEF aspire to a world where the rights of women and girls are claimed, valued and respected by all. There is a place of refuge for women under the Law of the Federation, the rights of women are entrenched in the Nigerian Constitution and Human Rights Instruments namely: Universal Declaration of Human Rights, The International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, The Covenant on the Elimination of all forms of Violence against Women and girls amongst others. Sadly, these rights are not been sought by women when there is violation due to ignorance of the existence of these rights. For this reason, we organize Sensitization and Awareness Creation Programs from time to time to educate women and girls on their fundamental rights and provide Legal Representation when such rights are infringed upon.
YOUTH EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM
The Youths are the young adults and without them, there will be no future generations. They are the energetic and sensitive part of any nation; the future leaders that must not be neglected. Neglecting them can jeopardize the future of any family, community and nation. The youth of today are at a crossroad not knowing which way to follow. They are faced with so many unresolved challenges that have made them lose hope in themselves and the nation. OWYEF aims to continually engage Nigerian youths in more positive activities to reduce youth restiveness and unlock their potential. Many of them have completed secondary school and university education but are unable to secure employment to sustain themselves.
We organize periodical Skills Acquisition and Capacity Building, Leadership and Entrepreneurship Training as well as Motivational and Social Training for youths of different age categories. The training equip the youths with Vocational, Entrepreneurial and Leadership skills to set up businesses for themselves and sustain them instead of being jobless and frustrated. OWYEF also provide Educational and Scholarship Grants for bright youths with educational prospects but couldn’t be in school due to financial difficulties.
SPEAK OUT CAMPAIGN
OWYEF created NAIJA WOMEN DECIDE (NWD), a Movement that gives a FACE and a VOICE to women and girls issues in Nigeria. NWD Platform was used to launch the SPEAK OUT CAMPAIGN which provides protective and responsive intervention for girls and children who are victims of rape/sexual violence or at the risk of such abuse and assist victims get justice and overcome the trauma and stigma of rape or sexual violence.
WOMEN ECONOMIC EMPOWERMENT PROGRAM
Breaking the barriers that prevent women from reaching their potential starts with positive interventions irrespective of whether she lives in the rural, urban slum or urban community. OWYEF is committed to helping as many women surviving on meagre resources and constantly seeking out a purpose for their lives achieve great outcomes and we offer a range of programs such as Entrepreneurship Training, Workshops and Seminars for women at various levels and also partner with Government Agencies and other Non Governmental Organizations who provide similar services. These Trainings are very strategic for participants as they acquire the necessary information and skills to set up and grow their businesses so they can adequately provide for themselves and their families.
GENDER EQUALITY
There is still a wide gap with regards to gender equality in Nigeria. Women and girls face an uphill battle from sexism and violence to inequity. They continue to be systematically left behind and discriminated against. Up until now, women still do not earn the same wages as men and do not have the same access to, or control over productive resources such as land. Social norms lock women and girls into unequal power relations leaving many of them with little control over decisions that affect their lives. Be it at household, community or national level. Discriminatory laws, practices or norms often limit women and girls social, economic and political advancement.
OWYEF is committed to breaking the vicious cycle of gender discrimination and the barriers that prevent women and girls from reaching their best potential whether in adolescence or adulthood through advocacy of non discrimination and support for equal access to education, job opportunities and equal salaries between men and women for the fulfilment of women and girls rights and promoting gender equality in Nigeria.
END VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN AND GIRLS CAMPAIGN
Violence against Women and girls is a human rights violation and the consequences of discrimination against Women and girls in law and in practice and of persisting inequalities between men and women. Violence against women and girls is a global pandemic and reports show that up to 70% of women experience violence in their lifetime. In Nigeria, violence against women and girls especially sexual violence has assumed an alarming rate and majority of them are suffering the violation of their most basic rights irrespective of status. This predicament started many years ago aided largely by some aspects of our custom that is barbaric and outrageous and by some notions in some quarters that men are superior to women or that it is the men’s world. Our intervention at OWYEF was to set a Gender Desk to provide support services to victims of all forms of gender based violence. Traumatized women and girls receive counselling to help them recover and restore their sense of dignity. We also assist them to seek redress and provide Legal Representation and Protection. OWYEF also organizes advocacy and sensitization programs to end all forms of violence against women and girls.
HEALTH CARE
OWYEF advocates for a healthcare delivery system that is comprehensive, effective, efficient, qualitative, accessible and affordable services to women. We also advocate for the Government to strengthen already established community-based health centres and take health services to the people through Mobile Health Care Delivery Schemes like the Indian and Australian Bush Doctors Models. We advocate for the reinforcement of primary healthcare management in areas such as maternal and child health, Malaria, Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, Sickle Cell disease and other communicable and non-communicable diseases.
OWYEF also develop target programs to improve maternal health especially in the areas of Antenatal care, Identification of High Risk Pregnancy. To encourage and promote health seeking behaviours and attitudes and create awareness of various risk factors and provision of free health information through collaboration with primary healthcare and information providers.
WOMEN POLITICAL PARTICIPATION PROGRAM
Nigerian politics is still largely a men’s affair. Only very few women hold key cabinet positions and the representation of women in the Legislative and Executive arms of Government is negligible. In political parties, women are restricted to the women’s wing. They are not involved in the strategic decision making of the political parties. They’re mainly used as mobilizing agents who clap, sing and dance at political rallies to make such campaign colorful and they are rewarded with petty cash, bags of rice and salt, campaign souvenirs, and other materials. Inspite of the fact since the inception of democracy, women have been consistent in their large turn out for Elections. It is believed that no Nigerian politician can win election without capturing the women’s vote. Nonetheless, women have not been able to transform this voting power to increased women’s participation in decision making and remain politically marginalized and sidelined from the main stream of decision making and leadership. Discriminatory customs and traditions, electoral violence and lack of financial resources have kept women away from politics hence the low level of women political participation. The women folk are an integral part of nation building and sustainable development at all levels. A gender based society is crucial for the positive growth and development of any nation. The challenges needs to be addressed so as to create room for women’s interest to be articulated and advanced.
OWYEF intervention has been in the area of Advocacy and Campaign for greater and effective participation of women in politics in line with the Beijing Conference Declaration which advocates for 35% Affirmative Action. We strongly advocate for an all inclusive democracy in Nigeria anchored on the principles of inclusion, justice, accountability and constitutionalism.
OWYEF also support and campaign for women running for political positions. We organize Motivational and Leadership training to adequately prepare them for election and public office.
