NCWS Seeks Stronger Partnership with GIZ to Empower Women in Nigeria
ABUJA, NIGERIA – The National Council of Women’s Societies (NCWS) Nigeria has called for stronger collaboration with the Gender Component of the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) Nigeria to scale up women’s empowerment, gender equality, and grassroots development initiatives across the country.
The call was made during a courtesy visit to GIZ in Abuja by the National President of NCWS, Princess Edna D. D. Azura, who led a delegation of women leaders to explore areas of strategic partnership.
In her address, Princess Azura described GIZ as “a consistent and respected player in the development space,” commending its work in gender equality, youth employment, peacebuilding, and rural development. She said these areas align closely with NCWS’s six thematic pillars, which include women’s political participation, economic empowerment, ending gender-based violence, access to education, health and well-being, and peacebuilding.
“We are here not just as advocates, but as collaborators, ready to walk with you on the path of empowering Nigerian women and creating real, lasting change,” Azura said. “GIZ has the technical expertise and resources. NCWS brings the people, the grassroots network, and cultural insight. Together, we can achieve much more.”
The NCWS President proposed joint initiatives with GIZ to scale up vocational and digital skills training for women and girls, strengthen community-based campaigns against gender-based violence, and support rural women with access to finance and green livelihood opportunities. She also called for collaboration on research, policy advocacy, and leadership capacity building for women in peace and security spaces.
Princess Azura further highlighted NCWS’s expansive grassroots structure, with networks in all 774 local government areas of Nigeria and a membership of over 20 million women, including professionals, entrepreneurs, market women, and community leaders.
Responding, Mrs. Bolaji Aino, the GIZ Gender Project Manager, expressed appreciation for NCWS’s visit and acknowledged the organization’s role as a strong voice for Nigerian women. She reaffirmed GIZ’s commitment to gender equality and community empowerment, noting that NCWS has been a trusted partner in the past.
Aino revealed that GIZ, through funding from the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union (EU), has collaborated with NCWS since 2009, especially in Adamawa and Jos, under gender-focused projects aimed at addressing social norms and strengthening women’s economic resilience.
“Our collaboration with NCWS has been impactful over the years, particularly in gender-responsive vocational training and community dialogues to shift harmful cultural practices,” Aino said. “We are committed to sustaining this partnership and will explore ways to include NCWS in our upcoming extension projects.”
The meeting ended on a positive note, with both organizations pledging to formalize discussions into a partnership framework that would enable joint implementation of projects benefiting women and girls across Nigeria.
