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. 

Fundraising for Vulnerable Families To End Poverty and Hunger

Save Our Needy has launched an online campaign to raise funds for vulnerable families mostly women and children affected by COVID-19 in order to help end poverty and hunger.

In Nigeria, millions of families live on less than $2 a day due to economic downturn. Most of these families have women as their breadwinners. They lack food, basic amenities, access to education and health facilities.

A vulnerable child

The emergence of COVID-19 has worsened an already bad situation. It has not only affected the health of thousands of women and children, it has also had a devastating effect on the finances of women who have lost their small businesses or jobs, putting them in a vulnerable situation.

Itegbin community

Save Our Needy hopes to reach out to 50 families in Itegbin community, Okokomaiko, a disadvantaged, riverine community affected by climate change and poverty. We hope to provide them with food and care packages as well as empower them with the tools and knowledge to fight poverty, climate change (environmental degradation) and hunger through free training.

KINDLY DONATE TO OUR CAUSE TO SAVE LIVES. THANK YOU.

Bank account details:

Save Our Needy Organisation

Guaranty Trust Bank PLC

0168556004

For foreign donations:

Save Our Needy Organisation

Guaranty Trust Bank PLC.

0477886089 (Euro Account)

0425886664 (Dollar account)

Swift Code: GTBINGLA

Agency Sort code: 058 - 152599

Marvella Odili Speaks On Community Initiatives, Youths and Women Empowerment and Solidarity

Marvella Odili, Founder/CEO of Save Our Needy was a panelist/speaker at the recently concluded 3rd edition of the event tagged "Night of Ideas", Circles of Solidarity, organized by the French Embassy in conjunction with the Institut Français which took place on January 28th at Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi.

Marvella Odili speaking at the event, "Night of Ideas"

The panelists shed light on the thematic: STRONGER TOGETHER : WHEN COMMUNITY-BASED INITIATIVES JOIN THE PARTY, SO IMPROVES CITIZENS EMPOWERMENT.

Prof Tunji Azeez passing his point across at the event tagged "Night of Ideas"

Marvella spoke extensively on the marginalization of youths and women in the economic development of Nigeria and how they can be engaged to play a major role.

Cross-section of guests

Other speakers were Prof Tunji Azeez, Head Department of Theatre, Art & Music at Lagos State University, who launched a special program to help inmates through theatre, and Romain Poirot- Lellig, Founder/CEO of Kwik Delivery, a start-up company dedicated to delivery service and the empowerment of youths.

France Ambassador to Nigeria, Jerôme Pasquier, making a speech

A guest interacting with the panelists

France Ambassador to Nigeria

Entertainers

The MC at the event

A wonderful show of creativity

The event which was attended by the France Ambassador to Nigeria,  Jerôme Pasquier, and other dignitaries, was surely a night to remember. 

What Next For Nigeria After #EndSARS Protests?

In October, Nigeria witnessed a historic protest led by youths clamoring for the total disbandment of a special unit of the police force known as SARS (Special Anti-Robbery Squad). SARS was initiated to curb crime particularly robbery in Nigeria in the 90s. However, the unit became known as a terror squad notorious for violating the rights of innocent citizens especially youths and women through extrajudicial killings, rape, extortion, kidnapping, intimidation, and even robbery.

 

 

The #EndSARS hashtag which trended worldwide for weeks had the support of international lawmakers, celebrities, and sportspeople including Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, Kanye West,  Rihanna, Drake, Trey Songs, Janet Jackson, Celine Dion, Tammy Abraham, Antonio Rudiger, and a host of others. 

 

 

For the first time in Nigerian history, Nigerian celebrities from the entertainment and sports industry all over the world including Falz, Runtown, DJ Switch,  Wizkid, Davido, John Boyega, Jude Ighalo, John Ogu, and a host of others, actively participated in the protest to #ENDSARS and end police brutality.

 

The Nigerian government responded by disbanding SARS and immediately creating SWAT (Special Weapons and Tactics). This did not go down well with the protesters who insisted it was just a change of name and not a full reformation of the unit. They backed up their claims with proof that SARS has been disbanded three times in the last 3 years but they only came back worse.

 

 

 

The leaderless protest which went on peacefully for almost three weeks grew to include other issues affecting youths such as bad governance, injustice, and impunity. 

 

 

 

As one voice, the youths all over Nigeria implored the Nigerian government to take real action to end police brutality, bad governance, increasing poverty, injustice, and impunity.

 

Despite the attacks on peaceful protesters by hoodlums alleged to be sponsored by the government to disrupt the protests, protests continued all over Nigeria.

 

 

 

 

On October 20th, peaceful and unarmed protesters at the Lekki toll gate, Lagos, were allegedly attacked and shot at by security forces leading to the death of some protesters. Many others were injured and some maimed in the process. Hoodlums took advantage of the chaos to unleash violence and looting in the State in subsequent days. 

 

 

Judicial panels of inquiry have been set up in multiple states in Nigeria to investigate cases of police brutality and possibly compensate families. However, it remains to be seen if the government will keep its word.

 

 

Since the protests died down, #EndSARS protesters have been witch-hunted by the government alleging sponsored terrorism. Cases of frozen bank accounts,  arrest from homes, and seizure of passports to stop traveling, have been trending on social media. These acts are quite contradictory to the promises made by the Nigerian government to listen to the cry of the youths. 

 

 

It is a month after the unfortunate incident at Lekki and an investigative report by CNN has confirmed the attack on peaceful protesters at Lekki tollgate. Sadly though, no one has been persecuted yet for this attack. 

 

The question now is what next for Nigeria after the #EndSARS protests?