The Foundation for Partnership Initiatives in the Niger Delta (PIND) reaffirmed its commitment to gender inclusion and women’s empowerment through its Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) initiative during the 2025 International Women’s Day (IWD) commemoration. The event, themed Towards Beijing+30: Sustaining Women’s Empowerment for Livelihoods and Leadership, focused on equipping women with vocational skills for economic independence and enhancing their leadership capacities to strengthen their roles in peacebuilding and decision-making.
Advancing Women’s Economic and Leadership Capacities
Held on March 25, 2025, in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, the event brought together women from across the Niger Delta, particularly Abia and Rivers States, regions with notable unemployment rates and significant incidents of violence against women and girls (VAWG).
Through insightful discussions and capacity-building sessions, participants were introduced to women-friendly vocational opportunities, such as leatherwork and tailoring, which were identified in PIND’s labor market assessment as viable industries for sustainable income generation.
Beyond economic empowerment, the event featured leadership training designed to strengthen women’s roles in community engagement and governance. These sessions provided practical strategies for conflict resolution, advocacy, and effective participation in decision-making processes.
Strengthening PIND’s Commitment to Women’s Empowerment
Speaking on behalf of Mr. Tunji Idowu, PIND’s Executive Director, Mr. Chuks Ofulue, PIND’s Advocacy Manager, emphasized the need to equip women with tools to drive change.
“Sustainable development in the Niger Delta cannot be achieved without the full participation of women. By providing the right skills and resources, we are ensuring that women are not just beneficiaries but active contributors to economic growth and peacebuilding in their communities”.
The event also featured a roundtable discussion, where female leaders and policymakers shared insights on overcoming barriers to women’s inclusion in leadership and economic spaces. Representatives from the Rivers State Ministry of Women Affairs, the Abia State Ministry of Trade and Investment, and civil society organizations, participated in discussions on strategies to advance the goals of Beijing+30, a global framework for gender equality.
Key Outcomes and Next Steps
Through this initiative, PIND reaffirmed its commitment to gender-inclusive development in the Niger Delta. The 2025 IWD commemoration achieved several key outcomes to include:
- Equipping women with practical skills to achieve economic self-sufficiency.
- Increasing women’s active participation in decision-making at community and institutional levels.
- Enhancing awareness and implementing policies to prevent violence against women and girls (VAWG).
- Building strong institutional and societal frameworks that promote women’s leadership and economic participation, aligning with Beijing+30 objectives.
As PIND joins the global community in commemorating International Women’s Day 2025 under the theme Accelerate Action, it remains committed to fostering an environment where women are empowered to lead and shape their communities. By bridging the gap between policy and practice, PIND equips women with the tools and support to drive meaningful change, accelerating progress toward gender equality and inclusive growth in the Niger Delta.
