WINSPIRED: HELPING UNLEASH WOMEN’S POWER AND POTENTIAL

By Bem Abubaker

The global pursuit of gender equality remains a persistent struggle, with women often facing limited opportunities in governance and business. This is a worldwide issue that demands unwavering advocacy, led by voices capable of drawing attention and crafting solutions to alleviate these crises.

Tope Imasekha, is a formidable advocate for gender equality. She founded the Women Impacting Nigeria (WIN) organization, propelled by her commitment to promoting gender equality across the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and her expertise in development economics.

WIN's mission is dedicated to promoting women's rights, empowerment, and gender equality, striving to bridge existing gender gaps across education, living conditions, economic empowerment, technology, political participation, and the entire spectrum of SDGs. Over the years, WIN has impacted over 800,000 Nigerian women and girls through diverse initiatives encompassing education, healthcare, technology, poverty alleviation, women's empowerment, and combating gender-based violence. WIN firmly believes that achieving gender equality is at the heart of advancing the SDGs, accelerating progress towards the 2030 agenda. WIN's focus extends across all 17 SDGs, addressing poverty reduction, education, and healthcare, ensuring women and girls have equitable access to opportunities and resources necessary for their growth.

Addressing gender inequality across healthcare and education

To address gender inequality in Nigeria, particularly in healthcare, WIN takes proactive steps to enhance preventive measures and support systems. This includes providing legal assistance and psychological counseling to those in need. In this endeavor, WIN has introduced the Maternal and Neonatal Child Health Initiative (MNCH), a cornerstone of WIN's initiatives offering comprehensive support for maternal and infant health, child wellness, immunization, nutrition, and the promotion of healthy living habits. WIN emphasizes the importance of preventive measures to reduce maternal and infant mortality, starting before conception and continuing through the postnatal period. This proactive approach includes screening for pre-existing chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and sexually transmitted diseases, as well as counseling and access to family planning services, educating women about contraception. Additionally, women are informed about the significance of proper nutrition and physical exercise for their health.

The MNCH program provides support to women throughout their pregnancy journey, ensuring that vulnerable women receive high-quality care from early pregnancy through labor and delivery. This tailored care addresses potential risks during pregnancy, ensures prompt treatment for complications, administers antenatal corticosteroids when necessary, and includes vaccinations and education on early warning signs related to pregnancy. The MNCH initiative extends postpartum care to women and newborns through age-appropriate vaccinations, educating women on protecting their infants from exposure to infectious diseases and harmful substances, thus reducing infant mortality.

WIN has organized several cervical and breast cancer screening programs, raising awareness about preventive care and offering free screenings. The beneficiaries are often vulnerable women living in poverty, Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, and marginalized rural communities. Through these interventions, WIN has improved access to health information and services for 10,000 Nigerian women and girls, significantly reducing gender-based disparities in healthcare.

In education, WIN aims to collaborate with organizations that share their vision to provide affordable education to women and girls in Nigeria, equipping them with necessary technological skills to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital world. They conduct awareness campaigns to challenge cultural norms restricting women's financial independence, working closely with community leaders, schools, and religious institutions to promote gender equality and women's rights.

Deploying a community focused approach for results

To make a lasting impact, WIN adopts a community-first approach, building strong relationships with the communities they serve. Before initiating any intervention, WIN collaborates with community leaders to understand their vision, ensuring the community benefits from training, screenings, community feeding programs, and business workshops.

WIN's tireless efforts have gained recognition from reputable organizations and media companies like BBC, Reuters, The New York Times, Global Citizens, CGTV, and PAGA. The organization received the Most Empowering SDG Organization for 2023 by Acquisition International and The Gender Mainstream award from Accenture for their remarkable efforts in empowering women in West Africa.

WIN is committed to making a significant impact in Nigeria by empowering women and girls through gender-based solutions. They aim to reach a million more women and girls, especially the vulnerable and marginalized, equipping them with tools and resources to succeed. This includes expanding microfinance initiatives, providing small loans to women entrepreneurs who lack access to traditional banking services. By providing women access to capital, financial literacy, and business management training, WIN is creating opportunities for women to start and grow their businesses, improving not only their lives but also those of their families.

Addressing gender equality challenges

The road to gender equality is filled with challenges, including deeply entrenched cultural norms and patriarchal attitudes. WIN recognizes these challenges and addresses them through community engagement, training programs, and advocacy efforts. By engaging with community leaders and stakeholders, WIN seeks support for gender equality initiatives, including community sensitization campaigns. Additionally, addressing economic factors such as unequal pay and limited access to education and employment opportunities is crucial. Addressing these challenges is paramount in promoting gender equality and creating a more just and equitable society for all.

Women's Integrated Network is dedicated to advancing the rights and opportunities of women and girls across the globe. With a focus on building strong communities, empowering women economically, and ensuring access to education and healthcare, WIN is making tangible strides toward achieving gender equality. The organization's commitment to partnerships, advocacy, and community engagement exemplifies its dedication to creating a world where every woman and girl can thrive.

Partnerships for progress

Recognizing the power of partnerships is a driving force behind its global impact. Collaborations with like-minded organizations and institutions have been instrumental in amplifying WIN's mission to empower women and girls worldwide. These partnerships not only broaden WIN's reach but also provide access to expertise, resources, and networks that enhance the quality and effectiveness of its programs.

One of the key areas where WIN has fostered crucial partnerships is in the financial sector. Recognizing the unique financial needs of women, WIN has worked closely with banks and other financial institutions to develop tailored financial products and services. These offerings include low-interest loans, savings plans, and insurance policies designed to empower women economically. By providing access to these financial resources and offering financial literacy and business management training, WIN is creating opportunities for women to start and grow their businesses. This not only improves the lives of individual women but also contributes to economic growth and stability within their communities.