The Women Information Network (WINET) has expanded its campaign against gender-based violence (GBV) to Anambra State, securing the commitment of the state government to partner with the organisation in implementing programmes aimed at strengthening women’s rights organisations and promoting gender equality.
The commitment was made when a delegation of WINET and other women-led organisations paid an advocacy visit to the Anambra State Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget in Awka as part of the implementation of the Amandla Institute for Policy and Leadership Advancement project, “Strengthening Women’s Rights Organisations in Nigeria for Gender-Based Violence Prevention.”
Leading the delegation on behalf of WINET’s Executive Director, Mrs. Miriam Menkiti, the organisation’s Monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) Officer, Mrs. Chinelo Dim, said the project is designed to strengthen collaboration among women’s rights organisations and other stakeholders to combat gender-based violence through advocacy, capacity building and movement strengthening.
She explained that WINET had already organised a national webinar titled “Strengthening Women’s Movement: A Strategy for Gender-Based Violence Prevention in Nigeria” to commemorate the 2026 International Women’s Day.
According to her, the virtual event attracted participants from across Nigeria, including persons with disabilities, and equipped them with practical knowledge and strategies for building stronger women’s movements capable of sustaining campaigns against gender-based violence.
Dim also disclosed that WINET is compiling a comprehensive directory of women-led organisations, women’s rights groups, male allies, community-based organisations and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) across the five South-East states to strengthen networking, coordination and referrals among stakeholders working to eliminate GBV.
She announced that the organisation would soon commence capacity-building workshops across the region and appealed to the Anambra State Government to partner with WINET in ensuring the successful implementation of the initiative.
“We are here to seek your partnership and commitment in supporting these activities that will be implemented in Anambra State,” she said.
Responding, the Commissioner for Economic Planning and Budget, Mr. Chukwukadibia Okoye, welcomed WINET’s intervention, describing the organisation’s objectives as consistent with the state’s commitment to gender inclusion and women’s empowerment.
He said Anambra has remained a gender-friendly state through deliberate investments in programmes that protect women, promote inclusion and strengthen the response to gender-based violence.
The commissioner noted that the state has continued to deploy strategic interventions and enforce relevant laws to address GBV while expanding initiatives that economically empower women.
Okoye described WINET’s decision to extend its activities to Anambra as a welcome development and encouraged the organisation to establish a strong operational presence in the state.
He assured the delegation that the Ministry of Economic Planning and Budget would provide the necessary coordination and support, while the Ministry of Women Affairs would serve as WINET’s primary operational partner.
The commissioner further stressed that the state government places premium value on measurable development outcomes, noting that governance is increasingly focused on achieving tangible impact rather than simply implementing projects.
He pledged that the ministry would collaborate with WINET, monitor the progress of its interventions, provide constructive feedback and support efforts that would strengthen the impact of programmes targeted at preventing gender-based violence and promoting women’s rights.
Okoye also promised to attend the organisation’s forthcoming capacity-building workshops or nominate a representative if official engagements prevent his participation.
The advocacy visit forms part of WINET’s broader South-East campaign to build stronger women’s movements, deepen collaboration among stakeholders and strengthen institutional responses to gender-based violence through strategic partnerships with government, civil society organisations and development partners.
