youth, women, and gender equity

Vision

A society where women and young people lead, innovate, and drive inclusive economic growth

Why It Matters

Nigeria’s women and youth make up more than 70% of the population, yet they remain among the most economically marginalized and politically underrepresented groups.

Persistent gender inequality, youth unemployment, limited access to finance, and social barriers keep millions trapped in poverty.

At Forward Africa (FOFA), we believe that empowering women and youth is not just about fairness — it’s about unlocking Nigeria’s full potential.

When a woman thrives, her family, community, and nation rise with her. When young people are empowered with skills and opportunities, they become agents of innovation and positive change.

That’s why FOFA’s gender and youth programs focus on skills training, entrepreneurship, leadership development, and advocacy — helping young Nigerians to thrive, lead, and shape their futures.

our approach

Economic Empowerment & Entrepreneurship:

We provide vocational, digital, and financial literacy training to women and youth, linking them to microcredit opportunities and mentorship for business growth.

Digital & Life Skills Training:

Through the Digital Skilling and Employment Project (DSEP), we equip young women with employable tech and soft skills for the digital economy.

Leadership & Gender Advocacy:

We build the leadership capacity of girls and young women, promoting gender inclusion in governance and peacebuilding initiatives.

Alignment with Global Goals

Our work contributes directly to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals:

SDG 1: No Poverty

SDG 5: Gender Equality

SDG 8: Decent Work and Economic Growth

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

SDG 4: Quality Education

Key Achievements

Trained over 500 young women in digital literacy, business management, and vocational skills for self-reliance.

Delivered school-based leadership and advocacy programs that have equipped 300+ girls to participate meaningfully in community development.

Partnered with organizations such as the Coca-Cola Foundation and CSAAE to deliver the Digital Skilling and Employment Project (DSEP), reaching thousands of women with free digital training.

Conducted community dialogues on gender equality, women’s rights, and violence prevention in Imo and neighboring states.

FOFA 2025–2028 Impact Goals

Empower 5,000 women and young people with entrepreneurship and digital skills.

Scale the YOMI program to all 36 states, helping 1,000 young mothers grow sustainable businesses.

Train 2,000 girls in leadership and advocacy to increase their participation in governance and peacebuilding.

Facilitate access to ₦100 million in microcredit for women-owned small businesses.

Build a community of 10,000 youth advocates for gender equity and inclusion across Nigeria.

Project Spotlight:
HerFuture Empowerment Program (HFEP)

goal

To equip 1,000 young women and girls with entrepreneurship, leadership, and digital skills for economic inclusion and sustainable livelihoods.

key components

expected impact

Capacity-building workshops on business management and financial literacy.

Mentorship and coaching from successful female entrepreneurs.

Digital skills bootcamps on social media management, e-commerce, and freelancing.

Community gender dialogues to promote women’s participation in leadership.

Access to micro-grants for business startups and expansion.

Projected Budget: ₦55 million (≈ USD 36,000)

1,000 women and girls trained.

100 startups supported with microgrants.

70% increase in employment or income generation among beneficiaries.

20 gender advocacy networks established.

Empower the next generation of women leaders — sponsor a training cohort, fund a startup grant, or partner with FOFA to scale inclusive development.

Join Our Mission

At Forward Africa, we believe that when women and youth rise, nations prosper.
Together, we can build a Nigeria where gender equity drives progress and every young person has a fair chance to succeed.

Contact: info@fofang.org

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