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Following nearly 16 years of military rule, a new constitution was adopted in Nigeria in 1999 and, despite some irregularities and political violence, the April 2003 elections marked the first civilian transfer of power in Nigeria’s history. Widespread poverty continues to affect women and the application of laws and customs that impinge upon women’s rights differs greatly by region. Inter-community conflict spurred by political, economic and religious differences sporadically affects the country, and estimates indicate that at least 50,000 people have died since 1999 as a result.
Staff profile: 21 members; all are Nigerian.
- Provided 3,189 women with program services in 2005 for a total of 12,810 women in 21 communities served since 2000.
- Offered training to male chiefs and community leaders on women’s rights to cultivate allies and advocates for women.
- Provided health training in areas such as hygiene, tuberculosis, dehydration and HIV/AIDS education and prevention.
- Helped 2,200 program graduates in Nigeria form 115 cooperative businesses.
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Current vocational skills trainings include knitting, tie-dye, poultry farming, polythene bag production, animal husbandry, soybean farming and fishing.
2005 Average participant profile:
- Average Age: 38
- Average Number of Children: 4
- Marital Status: 1.6% Married
61.9% Married
2.5% Separated/Divorced
34.0% Widowed
When the women entered our program...
- Education: 38.4% had no formal education
21% had some primary education
40.6% had completed primary school or higher
education
- Economic Activity: 11.7% none
47.2% agriculture
41.1% limited
- Community Participation: 59% of women took part in monthly meetings and/or activities
- Registered to Vote: 93.2%
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