Participants at the inauguration of the SW Women in Governance CoP in Lagos		The Lagos State SSG, Mrs Folashade Jaji (3rd left) is among the new members of the CoP.

As an offshoot of the PERL Women in Governance (WinG) initiative at the national level, women in public offices across South West Nigeria have formed a forum for sharing lessons and for developing members’ skills to ensure gender mainstreaming in regional governance processes.

The newly formed South West Women in Governance Community of Practice (CoP) comprises seven Women in Governance CoP members at the national level and fifteen new members, who were inducted into the South West CoP on 4th September 2019.

At the induction, members shared experiences on how they have used their skills to impact on other women. The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women, Children and Social Affairs in Osun State, Mrs Omolara Ajayi reported that she is using learned skills to mentor and empower six young widows in Osun State. She holds regular sessions for the young widows that will enable them to rise in their career paths towards excellence.

The Head of Planning at the Lagos State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs. Clara Mustapha is systematically coaching and mentoring twenty-six female staff in the ministry. According to her, one of her mentees has relocated with her family and is now the Chief Planner in a public office in Toronto, Canada.

The Director of Administration and Human Resources, Office of Overseas Affairs, Lagos Global, Mrs. Abosede George, reported that she is using her skills to uplift less privileged girls towards a dignified career of their choice. She is also sensitizing young girls against prostitution.

Representatives from Osun State shared their success story in developing a Gender Equity and Social Inclusion (GESI) Policy led by the State Ministry of Women, Children and Social Affairs. The Director of Planning at the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget, Mrs. Alice Esan, reported that a gender-responsive budget system has been adopted in implementing the policy.

PERL is dedicated to providing further technical support to the women in areas identified during the inauguration. Gender mainstreaming is one of the key thrusts of the work that DFID-PERL is doing in Nigeria in its bid to ensure inclusive, accountable, responsive and capable government.