By: Manoah Kikekon
BADAGRY, LAGOS – Olorunda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) has hosted a transformative one-day workshop titled the "Local Rights Programme: Women Empowerment, Participation, and Leadership." The event, organized in collaboration with ActionAid Nigeria and the Humanity Family Foundation for Peace and Development (HUFFPED), focused on equipping women with the tools for economic independence and active roles in local decision-making.
Held on Friday July 3 2026 at the Olorunda Secretariat, Badagry Lagos State, the workshop addressed the critical need to transition women from the sidelines of community development into the core of security architecture and governance.
Niri Goid, ActionAid’s Women’s Rights Programme Manager, and the guest speaker emphasized that the inclusion of women in decision-making is not merely a gesture, but a necessity for sustainable development.
"Gone are those days when the women fold their hands and allow the men to lead alone," Goid stated. "Women should be interested in leadership and should ask to be included in all levels of leadership because decisions that are made there are pertaining to their lives. We are looking at how we would start women peer education to train them on the importance of participation in every area that affects their lives."
Goid further challenged the status quo regarding security, noting, "Security is not meant for men alone. Women, in collaboration with men, have the responsibility to ensure security around them... they must contribute their quota in security, peace-building, and development."
Representing the Humanity Family Foundation (HUFFPED), Adebowale Kehinde pointed to the harsh reality revealed by their baseline surveys: women are eager to lead, but are frequently thwarted by restrictive traditional and social norms.
"We have observed that when it comes to elections, you see the women in the rural areas are recognized. Their recognition should be sustained to make sure the women remain relevant," Kehinde noted.
He argued that economic independence is the key to breaking these chains, adding, "We are telling the local government that rural communities need to be carried along in their empowerment programs. We support women to be economically independent so that we can have more representation across all areas of our society."
Hon. Ambe Itunuoluwa, The representative of the Chairperson Olorunda LCDA, welcomed the initiative as a vital "eye-opener." Hon. Itunuoluwa praised the foundation laid by the current Chairperson in empowering local women and pledged that the council would expand these efforts to reach even the most underserved communities.
"I will like to encourage all women to make sure they are educated so that they can be a valuable asset in their various communities," Hon. Itunuoluwa said. She also issued a call to action for the organizers, pleading with ActionAid to ensure the program's continuity, as sustained education is essential to empowering women to claim their space in society.