Rise Up Together Empowers 25 Nigerian Civil Society Leaders to Drive Gender Equity Reforms

The global social impact organisation, Rise Up Together, has launched an initiative to empower 25 local civil society leaders to champion gender equity reforms across Nigeria. The programme targets persistent gaps affecting women, girls, and gender-nonconforming individuals, equipping leaders to influence lasting social change in their communities.

The beneficiaries, drawn from the Federal Capital Territory, Rivers, Anambra, Kaduna, and Nasarawa States, will use their leadership skills to expand access to health, education, and economic opportunities for marginalized populations.

According to Theresa Effa, Country Director of Rise Up Together Nigeria, the 2025 Leadership and Advocacy Accelerator is an intensive, week-long training programme designed to strengthen advocacy, enhance leadership skills, and prepare participants to drive policy and systems change. Supported by Cummins Inc, the programme provides participants with the strategies and resources needed to improve laws, policies, and programmes in their communities.

“The Accelerator equips leaders with the tools to influence policy outcomes, expand community access to essential services, and create opportunities for women and girls. This is a strategic step in our mission to advance gender equity and justice in Nigeria,” Effa said.

Participants will undergo training in leadership, advocacy, policy change, and movement building. Upon completion, they will be eligible to apply for competitive grants to implement locally led advocacy projects addressing economic inclusion, education, healthcare access, and women’s rights.

The initiative builds on the successes of Rise Up Together alumni. For instance, Nsini Udonta, who joined the programme in 2018, leveraged her training and grant support to expand her work with Project Alert on Violence Against Women, creating a tangible impact in policy and practice. Nsini reflected, “I became a Rise Up Leader because I want to do more; I want to see changes in policies and practices to actually improve women’s rights.”

Dr. Nawani Aboki, Executive Director of the Center for Women, Youth and Community Action and one of the 2025 Accelerator facilitators, emphasised the programme’s transformative potential. “The energy, creativity, and dedication I’ve seen from Nigerian leaders is truly inspiring. During the Accelerator, we work alongside these leaders to strengthen their advocacy skills so they can influence policy, expand access to education and healthcare, and create economic opportunities that uplift their communities for generations,” he said.

Since 2009, Rise Up Together has built a global network of over 800 leaders across Africa, Latin America, South Asia, and the United States. Collectively, alumni have contributed to over 218 new or improved laws and policies, positively affecting more than 172 million people worldwide.

This initiative underscores Rise Up Together’s commitment to developing local leadership capable of creating sustainable change and advancing gender equity across Nigeria.