Background

Nigeria’s 2019 general elections revealed the stark underrepresentation of women in politics. Out of 2,970 women who contested various positions, only 60 emerged victorious—representing just 4% of elected officials nationwide. No woman was elected as governor, and female participation in parliament and decision-making spaces remained very low.

Building on the successes and lessons of Phase II (2019–2020), which mobilized grassroots women’s groups, engaged traditional leaders, and catalyzed advocacy for inclusive governance, PWAN launched Phase III with the support of the National Endowment for Democracy (NED). This phase specifically addressed mentorship, grassroots mobilization, and capacity building for female appointees—ensuring continuity in the push for women’s political participation.

About the Project

The Beyond Voting: Increasing Women’s Participation in the Political Process (Phase III) project, supported by the National Endowment for Democracy (NED), focused on building the capacity of women to actively engage in Nigeria’s political space. Implemented between July 2020 and June 2021, this phase deepened the work from Phase II by combining mentorship, grassroots mobilization, and leadership training for women already in governance. The project pursued three core objectives:

1. Mentorship for young women to prepare them for early entry into politics.

2. Grassroots sensitization through town hall meetings with women’s groups, CSOs, traditional rulers, and youth.

3. Capacity building for female Special Advisers to strengthen their advocacy for inclusive governance.

This approach directly built on Phase II, which had highlighted the urgent need for mentorship, intergenerational dialogue, and grassroots mobilization.

What We Did

• Political Leadership Boot Camp & Mentorship

  • Trained 30 young women from 14 states in February 2021 on public speaking, campaign strategy, democratic ethics, and leadership.

  • Paired them with 6 seasoned female politicians for a 6-month mentorship program.

• Capacity Building for Female Special Advisers

  • 13 female Special Advisers from across 6 geopolitical zones trained on leadership, communication, and gender budgeting.

  • They created an Africa Young Female Appointees Initiative (AYFAI) and launched an official website to showcase their work.

• Grassroots Town Halls

  • Organized in Gombe and Ogun States, reaching 111 participants directly (65 in Gombe, 46 in Ogun) and over 100 indirectly.

  • Engaged traditional leaders, the Emir of Gombe’s council, faith-based groups, CSOs, market women, and political party representatives.

• Advocacy & Media Engagement

  • Developed a documentary and photobook capturing stories of mentors and mentees.

  • Social media campaigns, podcasts, and features on young women leaders amplified project impact.

Key Outcomes in Numbers

• 30 young women trained and mentored for political leadership.

• 13 female Special Advisers equipped with advanced leadership and advocacy skills.

• 111 grassroots participants sensitized through town halls; 100+ more reached indirectly.

• 51 participants attended the final convergence of mentors, mentees, and stakeholders.

• 63 applications received for the mentorship program, indicating strong youth interest in politics.

• 2 mentees elected Chairperson & Vice Chairperson of the Young Women in Politics Forum (YWIPF).

• 2 mentees selected as Commonwealth Youth Ambassadors.

• Several mentees registered with political parties, contesting for positions ahead of 2023.

Impact

• Shift in mindsets: Traditional leaders in Gombe pledged door-to-door campaigns for women’s political inclusion.

• Policy influence: Kwara State passed the VAPP Act following advocacy by trained mentees.

• Emerging voices: Female Special Advisers are now shaping state-level governance through gender budgeting and inclusive policy advocacy.

• Sisterhood of changemakers: A resilient network of young women leaders now exists, bridging the intergenerational gap.

Testimonials

“I have become more intentional about building capacity and lending my voice for change. The PWAN boot camp shifted my perspective from being a spectator to becoming an active player in Nigerian politics.” – Adesewa Olofinko, 2021 mentee

“The mentorship reaffirmed my dream of becoming an outstanding public leader. It gave me exposure, values, and the courage to pursue my political ambition.” – Bushrah Balogun, 2021 mentee

“This program is a strong tool in navigating challenges that hinder equal participation of women. It is essential to building a successor generation of women leaders.” – Ebere Ifendu, President, Women in Politics Forum

Looking Ahead

PWAN has now built a community of politically conscious women at the national, state, and grassroots levels. The next step is to engage political parties directly, pushing for women’s inclusion on ballots and within party structures—ensuring that numbers translate to representation.