A non-governmental organisation, Bridge Connect Africa Initiative (BCAI), says it has recorded significant success in the implementation of the Women Against Violence and Empowered through Sustainability (WAVES) project and plans to expand the initiative to reach more beneficiaries across Kano State.
The project Lead, Nathan Bako, disclosed this during a project learning and impact dissemination event organised with support from the French Embassy in Nigeria and Alliance Française Kano.
Bako explained that the dissemination programme was organised to present preliminary outcomes of the initiative and gather feedback from stakeholders to guide future phases of the project.
He noted that the project cycle spans nine months and is expected to conclude in April, adding that the initiative has already recorded notable progress in empowering women and strengthening institutional responses to gender-based violence.
According to him, the WAVES project operates on three key pillars, capacity building, advocacy and policy engagement, and institutional strengthening.
Under the capacity-building component, Bako said the organisation trained women in business management and supported the establishment of networks among beneficiaries to enhance collaboration and mutual support.
“One of the biggest achievements for us is that many of the women who were previously isolated now have a strong support network and improved business capacity,” he said.
He added that the project also engaged the Kano State Ministry of Women Affairs and other stakeholders to strengthen coordination on women’s economic empowerment and the prevention of gender-based violence.
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Bako further disclosed that gender-desk officers in 20 divisions of the Kano State Police Command were trained to provide survivor-centred responses to cases of gender-based violence.
He said the project would culminate in a showcase event next month where beneficiaries are expected to display products and achievements recorded during the programme.
Speaking at the event, BCAI’s technical partner, Eric Andrew of Agro Fixing Consulting, said the project produced several learning materials to support organisations working in women’s empowerment and agriculture.
Andrew added that one of the key impacts of the initiative was the visible transformation among participating women, many of whom have expanded their businesses and developed greater confidence to pursue economic opportunities.
