By Franca Ofili
Rise Up Together, a global non-governmental organisation focused on advancing gender equity and justice, is set to inaugurate a transformative initiative in Nigeria.
Nigeria Country Director, Ms. Theresa Effa, announced this in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja.
She said the initiative was supported by Cummins Inc., a multinational power solutions company committed to equity and social impact.
Effa said the 2025 Leadership and Advocacy Accelerator would empower 25 civil society leaders from the Federal Capital Territory, Rivers, Anambra, Kaduna and Nasarawa States.
She said the participants, described as emerging changemakers, would undergo an intensive training programme from Nov. 16 to 22.
According to her, the Accelerator will equip leaders with strategies and resources to strengthen health, education and economic opportunities through improved laws, policies and programmes.
She noted that participants would receive training in leadership, advocacy, policy change and movement building.
“Rise Up Together invests in local leaders’ vision and amplifies their voices, equipping them to create systemic change,” Effa said.
She highlighted the impact of alumni such as Nsini Udonta, who joined the programme in 2018 and used her training and funding to expand Project Alert’s work on violence against women, protecting more than 4.5 million women and girls.
Effa added that since its founding in 2009, Rise Up Together has built a global network of more than 800 leaders across Africa, Latin America, South Asia and the United States.
She said the organisation had also contributed to 218 improved laws and policies, benefiting more than 172 million people worldwide.
Udonta, reflecting on her motivation, said she joined Rise Up because she wanted to drive policy changes that strengthened women’s rights.
A facilitator of the 2025 Accelerator, Dr Nawani Aboki, Executive Director of the Centre for Women, Youth and Community Action, said the programme was designed to build leaders’ capacity to influence policy.
She added that the initiative would also expand community access to essential services.
“The energy, creativity and dedication of Nigerian leaders is inspiring, they are poised to lead change that will be felt for generations.
“Through the accelerator, we will strengthen their advocacy and leadership skills so they can influence policy, expand education and healthcare access, and create economic opportunities that uplift communities,” Aboki said.
NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA