Grassroots women’s groups across Enugu State got a major boost this week as WOYODEV hosted a one-day sensitization and capacity-building training for selected Community-Based Organizations (CBOs).
The training is part of WOYODEV’s Women’s Political Participation Project, a deliberate push to strengthen grassroots engagement and mobilization ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Setting the Stage for Change
The session opened with WOYODEV’s Executive Director, Tosin Apiriola-Ajayi, who laid out the organization’s vision and mandate. She spoke plainly about why this work matters now: too many women are still locked out of governance and decision-making by structural and cultural barriers.
Her message was clear – if we want different outcomes in 2027, we have to start dismantling those barriers at the community level today.
Breaking Down What Holds Women Back
Participants didn’t hold back. Throughout the day, CBO representatives from different LGAs shared honest reflections on the socio-cultural practices and taboos in Igboland that still limit women’s role in public life.
Key issues on the table included:
- Land ownership restrictions that sideline women economically
- Harmful traditional practices that affect women’s agency
- *Deep-rooted perceptions* about women’s place in traditional and civic spaces
The conversations were frank, but constructive. The goal wasn’t just to name the problems, but to figure out how to shift them.
Practical Tools for Grassroots Action
The training was built around five interactive modules designed to do more than inform. Each session gave participants practical tools for advocacy, community mobilization, and sensitization they can take straight back to their communities.
Angela Okoye-Kolawole led the second half, guiding participants through real strategies for advocacy and community engagement. The focus was on what actually works on the ground – how to start conversations, build support, and move people from awareness to action.
To capture the day’s impact, State Project Officer Stella Okechukwu-Kalu recorded short video interviews with participants. They shared their takeaways on women’s political participation, leadership inclusion, and what social transformation looks like in their own communities.
What Happens Next
This training is one piece of a longer push. By equipping CBOs with knowledge and practical skills, WOYODEV is betting on grassroots leaders to cascade these conversations across Enugu State.
The hope is simple: when women at the community level are informed, organized, and supported, their participation in 2027 won’t be an afterthought – it’ll be a force.