Women for Women International Nigeria was founded in 2000 by a small team under the leadership of our first country director, Jean Bell. It was established through Attainable Self Advancement, a local non-governmental organization that was officially registered at the state level with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) in Enugu State, southeastern Nigeria, in 2001. The program started with just 100 participants and later grew to 800 participants.
In 2003, WfWI Nigeria established an office in JOS, Nigeria, in response to the extreme poverty faced by communities and families at that time. Despite the unimaginable hardships, the women refused to give up. For the past 25 years, we have been helping women rebuild their lives with dignity, confidence, and hope. Through our programs, women acquire the skills, knowledge, and resources needed to strengthen their economic independence, support their families, and take on stronger roles as voices and leaders in their communities.
I began my journey with Women for Women International Nigeria in 2001, starting as a field officer and becoming the country director in 2016.
I often think about the pregnant woman fleeing from violence, the young girl managing her period in a displacement camp, the elderly woman, and the woman living with a disability who has nowhere safe to turn. These are not just abstract statistics; they represent real lives, real experiences, and powerful reasons why this work must continue.
Today, the intensity of conflict and insecurity has sadly increased, affecting far too many communities across our country. Women like Abigail Danladi, a participant in our program, often bear the heaviest burdens, striving to hold families together through unimaginable loss and hardship. Unfortunately, our work is more relevant now than ever before.
"Our dreams were shattered by the violent crisis in 2023. Our mother was killed during a night attack, and our house, along with all our personal belongings, was set ablaze. We fled to a neighboring village for safety.” - Abigail Danladi, participant, Nigeria.
Amid these harsh realities, I have witnessed extraordinary courage. I have met women who arrived in our program filled with fear, trauma, and uncertainty. By the end of the 12-month program, I have seen them rebuild their confidence, start businesses, educate their children, become leaders in their communities, and rediscover hope. These transformations have been the greatest privilege of my journey with this organization. They remind me that when a woman is given the opportunity, tools, and support to succeed, she transforms not only her own life but also the lives of her family and community.
“Since I joined the WfWI program, I have experienced significant personal transformation. The program has strengthened my self-confidence, improved my social connections, and equipped me with practical knowledge and skills that are helping me rebuild my future.” - Abigail Danladi, participant from Nigeria.
As Nigeria's social and economic landscape has changed, our programming has evolved as well. We have developed a comprehensive empowerment model that includes financial literacy, livelihood development, leadership training, advocacy, social protection, and community engagement. This approach goes beyond vocational skills training and savings groups. Our integrated method has enabled thousands of women to transition from mere survival to building sustainable, self-sufficient futures.
Over the past 25 years, every milestone has been made possible by dedicated employees, community leaders, partners, and donors who believe in women's potential and power. Their unwavering commitment has allowed us to operate in Nigeria's most vulnerable communities and create lasting change despite numerous challenges. Together we have:
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Supported more than 114,652 women across 120 communities in Enugu, Plateau, Kaduna, Bauchi, Cross River, and Benue States.
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Supported 150 girls through the Adolescent Girls’ Program, which we launched in November 2024.
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Engaged over 17,567 male leaders and relatives of participants through our Men's Engagement Program, fostering greater understanding of women's rights and economic participation.
As I look to the future, our work is far from complete. Too many women are still enduring conflict and crisis. However, I remain hopeful because I have witnessed the impact of people coming together with compassion, commitment, and purpose.