Oreoluwa Adeyemo

Women Impacting Nigeria

Nigeria today, is highlighted by vast socioeconomic disparities. These enormous diversities in living conditions and opportunities are of greatest concern. Like many developing countries around the world the story of gender inequality is not new. Women are amongst the most marginalized and experience barriers in every aspect of our society, with most having little or no access to education, resources and opportunities. The significant gender gaps in education, economic empowerment and political participation that remain in Nigeria are of grave concern. Discriminatory laws and practices, violence against women and gender stereotypes hinder greater progress towards gender equality. The cycle is continuous; it is time to not only talk about it BUT be the active change we desire in our own country. The Women's Impacting Nigeria Foundation (WIN) was formed out of this necessity. It is a female run, not-for-profit organization, dedicated to positively affecting the socio-economic development of Nigeria, through the empowerment of women. Women's economic empowerment is a pre-requisite for sustainable development, pro-poor growth and the achievement of the 2030 sustainable development goals. Research shows that empowered women are catalysts for multiplying development efforts. Furthermore, investments in gender equality yield the highest returns of all development investments (OECD, 2010) The attainment of gender equality is not only seen as an end itself, it about and human right issues and equitable societies. Women must have more equitable access to assets and services. Employment opportunities must be improved while increasing the recognition of women's vast unpaid work. Achieving women's economic empowerment however, is not a quick fix and will require sound public policies, a holistic approach, long-term commitment from ALL development actors.