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!

Spotlight Initiative Nigeria Organizes 3--Day Orientation Workshop for Implementation Partners

A 3-Day Orientation Workshop was organized in Lagos by the Spotlight Initiative Nigeria working in collaboration with Spotlight Global, for its implementation partners. Participant States were Lagos, Ebonyi, Adamawa, Cross River, FCT and Sokoto.

Some of the participants at the workshop

The training sessions aimed at exchanging ideas, sharing of knowledge and experiences, brought together key government ministries, selected Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Recipient UN Organizations (RUNOs). The sessions also gave the much needed opportunity to network. During the training sessions, participants were intimated on the project deleverables, targets, implementation arrangements, reporting/financial reporting requirements. The project start-up workshops supported the development of a results-oriented, state-specific CSO workplans from the already approved Spotlight Initiative (SI) 2019 workplans. Save Our Needy was one of the CSOs selected to participate at the workshop. The organization was represented by its Founder/CEO, Marvella Odili.

Marvella Odili (L) at the workshop

Adetutu Ajibodu, Centre Manager, WARIF (L) with Marvella Odili

Marvella Odili, Founder/CEO, Save Our Needy at the workshop

Marvella Odili

Marvella Odili

 

Patience, UN Women (middle)

The Communications trainer at the workshop

The Spotlight Initiative, a joint initiative of the EU-UN, is centred on the theme, Elimination of All Forms of Violence Against Women and Girls. The initiative aims to support the transformative change on the ground to end violence against women and girls, and harmful practices, in numerous countries globally. Nigeria is one of the eight countries in the African region selected to benefit from the Spotlight Initiative. It is anchored in the UN Sustainable Development Partnership Framework (UNSDPF) 2018-2022 and is implemented by five UN agencies (UN Women, UNICEF, UNESCO, UNFPA and UNDP), the Government of Nigeria, including federal and State governments and Civil Society. 

#SpotlightEndViolence #SpotlightNG

Mr. Kwasi emphasizing on a point

Marvella Odili, Specially Invited To Day of The Digital Woman In Paris

Marvella Odili, Founder and CEO of Save Our Needy Organisation was specially invited as one of the 5 winners of the French International Prize to Day of The Digital Woman (La Journée de la Femme Digitale), founded by Delphine Remy-Boutang who is also the Founder of THE BUREAU. The annual event promotes the talents and initiatives of women in technology. The event gives women from all walks of life the opportunity to network and share knowledge, and experiences. 

L-R: Marvella Odili, Nina Ratsirarson, Sonia Nare, Essivi Acakpo-Addra

  

This year’s event which took place on April 17^th at Maison Radio France in Paris, was the 7^th Edition and the theme was Women: World Changers “Elles Changent Le Monde.” The event hopes to create a more inclusive digital world.

Speakers at the event included Karine AUGOYAT- Capgemini Invent, Gilles BABINET-Digital Champion for France, European Commission, Shanty BAEHREL, CEO Shanty Biscuits, Sandrine BOUCHER- Director of Innovation, AFD, Delphine BOURBON-Head of Digital Excellence and Performance,Air France, Fabienne DULAC-Managing Director,Orange France, Anne-Flore Chappelier-Co-founder and General Manager,My Little Paris,Sarah-Diane ECK-Vice-president France Digitale, Caroline ELBAZ- HR Director,Oracle, Karim SY,Chairman, Digital Africa, Gilles Fontaine- Editor-in-chief, Challenges, Vincent GIRET-Director, FranceInfo, Stephanie Hospital- Founder/CEO, OneRagTime, Anne RIGAIL-Managing Director, Air France, Lubomira ROCHET- Chief Digital Officer, L’OREAL, 

Some of the speakers at the event

Guillaume BREGERAS-Journalist,Les Echos, Nathalie COLLIN-Deputy Chief Executive Officer in charge of Digital and Communication, LE GROUPE LA POSTE, Luc DAMMANN- VP & GM West Europe, ADOBE, Florianne de LONGVILLIERS – Commercial Executive, MICROSOFT, Valérie LAUGIER-Vice-President Digital and Innovation, Total Marketing and Services, Marie-Christine LEVET- Founder & Chairwoman, EDUCAPITAL, Momar NGUER- President, Marketing & Services, Total, Céline MAS- Chairwomen, UN Women France, Cédric O, State Secretary for Digital, French Government, Justine RYST- Director of Partnerships, Google France, Marlène SCHIAPPA, Secretary of State Gender Equality & Anti-Discrimination, French Government, Jennifer TIDY- VP Senior Partnerships, MODIFACE, Sibyle VEIL- CEO, Radio France, Sandrine DELAGE, BNP Paribas, Mathieu DOUGADOS- Managing Director, CAPGEMINI INVENT, France.

Marvella Odili, Founder/CEO of Save Our Needy at the event

 

Marvella Odili at Day of Digital Women

During the course of the event, 55 young female entrepreneurs who won the Total StartUppers Challenge were presented to the audience.

Cross section of winners of Total StartUppers Challlenge

Marvella Odili admiring 2018 laureat of Margaret Prize, Rozanne Varza

The day ended on a very eventful note as two winners were awarded The Margaret Prize, a Prize which pays tribute to the famous computer scientist from NASA, Margaret Hamilton, who contributed to the first human going to the moon. Each year, two laureats are awarded the European Margaret Of the Year and the African Margaret Of The Year. Julie Davico-Pahin, President and Co-Founder of Ombrea was awarded European Margaret 2019 and Cameroonian, Arielle Kitio, Founder of Caysti was awarded African Margaret 2019. Previous laureats include Roxanne Varza and Joséphine Goube.

L-R: Recipients of the Margaret Prize with event hosts

The Margaret Prize celebrates women using digital technology to create a better world.

#JFD #LesMargaret

Fighting Inequality

It is the #FightInequality Week of Action! From January 14th to 20th, millions of people all over the world will be expressing how they want the world to be via music, art and events.

Inequality is a very serious issue today and it needs to be tackled. Save Our Needy envisions a world where every woman, man, boy and girl has equal rights and opportunities to thrive and succeed in life.

Join us to #FightInequality and demand a fair and just world for everyone.