Women Community in Africa (WCA), a coalition of civil society organisations dedicated to addressing social issues affecting women and children, held its 2024 gala night in Abuja, where it presented Awards of Appreciation to individuals and organizations that have supported its humanitarian initiatives. These awards were given in recognition of the valuable contributions made by partners and sponsors who have stood by WCA in its mission to uplift vulnerable communities.
The gala night was part of the activities surrounding this year’s WCA summit, which took place on Thursday at the NAF Conference Centre in Abuja. The summit, themed “Cyber Safety: Empowering Families in the Digital Age,” focused on fostering collaboration between educators, parents, and community leaders to ensure Nigerian children are well-protected from the dangers of internet violence and other digital vices. The discussions centered on creating a safer online environment for children and equipping families with the tools needed to navigate the complexities of the digital world.
A major highlight of the evening was the launch of two significant projects aimed at empowering families and children. The first was the book Simplified Safety Laws for Families, authored by Barrister Jade Olise, founder of the Jade Olise Foundation and General Secretary of WCA. This book breaks down Nigeria’s cybersafety laws into simple, easily digestible content, making it accessible to even young children. The book is designed to help families, especially children, understand how to navigate the internet safely while adhering to the nation’s cyber laws. It reflects WCA’s commitment to ensuring that families are well-informed about the dangers of the digital age and equipped with practical tools to protect themselves online.
The second project launched was Nigeria’s first financial literacy board game designed for children, created by Beyond Mentors Community Care Initiative (BMCCI) and presented by Azeez Fiyinfoluwa, founder of Swyft. This innovative board game introduces young African children to the concepts of saving, investment, and building financial resilience. Through fun and interactive play, the game teaches children essential financial skills, helping them develop good money management habits from an early age, which will benefit them throughout their lives.
In addition to these project launches, several individuals and organisations were honoured with Awards of Appreciation. The recipients included traditional rulers, volunteers, civil society organisations (CSOs), and corporate bodies such as the Nigerian Communication Commission (NCC) and the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), among others. These organisations have played pivotal roles in supporting WCA’s initiatives, contributing significantly to the coalition’s mission of empowering families and communities.
Prof. Hauwa Ibrahim, an international human rights lawyer and President of the Peace Institute, was also honored with an award. Prof. Ibrahim, who won the European Parliament’s prestigious Sakharov Prize in 2005, was recognized for her continued efforts in promoting human rights and justice. Other notable awardees included Dr. Adetoun Dally, the Global President of WCA, and Mr. Ademola Kasumu, Chairman of the Board of Trustees for BMCCI.
During the event, the Chairman of the event, Dr. Maimoona Salim expressed her deep appreciation to the award recipients for their unwavering support and dedication to WCA’s vision. She noted:
“We need to appreciate those who have been working with us and toiling on this journey through these years, to thank them for the contributions and everything that they have done to make this a success.
“All the stakeholders recognized were there to assist us in making this a success.
“It is now another year for us as a coalition, and with the sponsorship and support we receive, we are going to scale our programs down to the communities via our coordinators and our coalition.”
The gala night was not only a celebration of the launch of these two groundbreaking projects but also a reaffirmation of WCA’s commitment to its core values of education, safety, and financial empowerment. By addressing the critical issues of cybersafety and financial literacy for children, WCA continues to take meaningful steps toward creating a safer and more empowered society for Nigerian families.
With plans to expand its programs into more communities through its coordinators and partners, WCA remains dedicated to protecting families and children while continuing its advocacy for cyber safety and empowerment in the digital age.
