Celebrating International Women's Day 2023

Happy International Women's Day!!! This year’s theme, "DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality", is in alliance with Save Our Needy's passion and purpose.

This year, International Women's Day celebrates the contributions of the women and girls committed to building gender-responsive innovations and advancing innovation and digital technology.

Over the years, we have initiated and successfully implemented technology-related projects that have empowered both marginalized women and girls and given them the opportunity to not only gain financial freedom but break ceilings. Projects namely "Connecting Marginalized Women to Technology and Development", "Tech Girls" and "Girls Up" have been instrumental to creating transformative change through the use of technology, advancing innovation and promoting gender equality.

With less than 10 years to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), we still have a lot to do in order to close the huge gender digital divide. We need to demystify the notion that women cannot be leaders in technology. Together, we can close the digital gender gap!

The Nigeria IWD Awards Gala 2023: Embrace Equity

The second edition of the International Women's Day (IWD) Awards Gala which took place last Saturday, February 18th, was indeed a day to remember.

Convened by UN Women and UNDP in partnership with the British High Commission, the European Union Delegation and the Embassies of France, Germany, the United States of America and Democratic Republic of Congo, the 2023 International Women's Day (IWD) Awards Gala placed emphasis on the importance of male allyship in advancing gender equality by recognising the contributions of key male allies through the newly introduced HeForShe Award.

The Gala aims to increase the visibility of examplary Nigerian women as well as recognize their achievements; advocate for increased women’s political representation; and incentivize change by publicly recognizing women’s empowerment champions.

The Gala celebrates extraordinary Nigeria women who are breaking glass ceilings and advancing women inclusion in the economic, political, social, and cultural sectors of the country.

International artiste ASA, thrilled guests with a superlative performance.

High- level guests at the event included representatives from UN Women, UNDP and the Women Ambassadors of the British High Commission, US Embassy, France Embassy, German Embassy, Australian Embassy, and the European Union Delegation.

Ambassadors Mary Beth Leonard (USA) and Emmanuelle BLATTMANN (France), Dr. Obiageli (Oby) Ezekwesili, Erelu Abiola Dosunmu and Chief Mrs Nike Davies-Okundaye were some of the high profile guests who graced the event.

Prestigious awards were presented across categories such as Political Leadership and Governance; Private Sector; Grassroots and Civil Society; Media and Entertainment; HeForShechampion; Feature Award: DigitALL: Innovation and technology for gender equality; and Outstanding Woman Leader. HE Pauline Tallen and Kemi Adetiba were among the recipients of the awards.

Renowned comedian/compère, Chigurl, was on hand to liven up the event.

Ably represented by our Founder/CEO, Marvella Odili, the event gave her the opportunity to renew old ties and network with high-level guests.

As this year's theme is #EmbraceEquity with the UN theme focused on "DigitALL: Innovation and Technology for Gender Equality", let's all continue to be advocates for progressive gender representation for a more equitable society where gender equality is not just a topic for discussion but engrained in every society's DNA as part of our existential substance. As they say, the future is female and the future is NOW!

Marvella Odili Is A Speaker/Panelist At The Paris Peace Forum

We cannot talk about sustainable development without talking about women empowerment. Women have the unique power to reshape societies. "There is no tool for development more effective than the empowerment of women"- Kofi Annan As a panelist at the session “Breaking the glass ceiling: for a feminist and inclusive digital economy” at the recently concluded 5th edition of the Paris Peace Forum, our Founder/CEO, Marvella Odili had the opportunity to talk about women's economic empowerment and how digital skills will open doors for more marginalized women. The panel moderated by Alexandre STUTZMANN, Director, Parliamentary Relations with the UN Delegation of the European Union to the UN, shed more light on the inclusivity of women and the important role they have to play in the society and the world at large today.

Paris Peace Forum: For Multilateral Solutions and a More Inclusive World

Founder/CEO of Save Our Needy Organisation, Marvella Odili, was invited to the 5th edition of the Paris Peace Forum held Nov 11th-12th at the Palais Brongniart, the first in-person forum since after the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic and its consequent restrictions to present her project, "Project Empower."

In a world requiring more collective action to "ride out the multi-crisis" we face in the world today, the Paris Peace Forum is a platform open to those seeking to develop coordination, rules and capacities to answer global problems.

The forum explored ways to mitigate the multiple shocks by fostering a renewed cooperative world order and multilateralism as well as launching transnational issues, solutions and debates.

This year, the Space for Solutions showcased 60 projects tackling issues at the core of the 5th edition.

The global event gave opportunities for sharing of ideas, collaboration and networking among participants and guests.

Celebrating French National Day 2022

The French National Day has come and gone but the beautiful memories remain. On July 15th at the Mike Adenuga Centre (Alliance Française) Ikoyi, the France Ambassador to Nigeria, Ambassador Emmanuelle BLATMANN and the Consul-General, Monmayrant, hosted Nigerian and French dignitaries to a well-organized soirée.

It was a fantastic event not only for celebration but also for reconnection and networking. Our Founder, Marvella Odili, ably represented Save Our Needy Organisation.

The Nigeria IWD Awards Gala 2022

International Women's Day is celebrated annually to highlight the contributions of women to the world's development. 

On March 5th, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women, European Union, British High Commission, and the Embassies of the United States of America, Germany and France came together in partnership to host the first ever Nigeria’s International Women’s Day Awards Gala. 

The Awards aim to serve as an incentive to leaders in different sectors to make concerted efforts in creating more opportunities for women and strive to ensure gender equality.

In a statement issued by the UNDP office in Nigeria, “The International Women’s Day Gala and Awards seeks to leverage the opportunity of the representation of 11 key countries in Nigeria by women Ambassadors to advocate for increased women representation in political and governance space, incentivise change by publicly recognising women empowerment champions, encourage decision-makers and policy makers to ensure adequate space is created for women in the spheres of policy and decision making and advance women’s political and socio-economic empowerment.”

In addition to having women in senior positions in the United Nations and other multilateral organizations, Nigeria also presently has women ambassadors in: Benin, Burundi, Colombia, Cuba, European Union, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Malaysia, the Philippines, Poland, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

Nigerian artiste, Cobhams Asuquo (middle)

Nigerian artiste Omawunmi (Omawonder) on stage

Our Founder/CEO, Marvella Odili, was a guest at this high-level International Women's Day Awards Gala where people from top government positions, Ambassadors, civil society and internationally recognized individuals including Chimamanda Adichie and Chief Mrs. Nike Okundaye graced the event.

Marvella Odili, Founder/CEO, Save Our Needy

Marvella Odili(L) with Chimamanda Adichie

Marvella Odili (L) with Chief Mrs Nike Okundaye

The awards celebrated Champions in promoting women’s leadership and gender equality in Nigeria. It recognized achievements by individuals and institutions across categories of: Political Leadership & Governance,  Private Sector, Arts & Culture,  Media & Entertainment, Civil Society as well as a Feature Award on the 2022 IWD theme: Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow as well as a Most Inspiring/Outstanding Woman Leader Award.