Timothy: By Timothy Yusuf
The Ford Foundation Office for West Africa (FFOWA) has marked 65 years of social justice across Nigeria and the African Nations.
This celebration reflected on the Foundation’s six-and-a-half decades of advancing social justice, equality, and inclusive development across West Africa in Abuja, on the theme: “Social Justice and the Quest for Resilience in Africa.”
The event brings together grantees, government representatives, partners, alumni, and friends of the Foundation to honour a shared memory of courage, collaboration, and commitment to advancing human dignity across West Africa.
Program Officer at TechHer Foundation, Gladys Eleojo, described the anniversary as “a profound moment of gratitude and recommitment.”
“This milestone belongs not to one institution, but to a shared community of change-makers across West Africa and beyond. Since 1960, our mission has remained clear: to stand with those building just and inclusive societies.
“Our achievement is not defined by numbers alone, but by the spirit of trust, courage, and partnership that has underpinned every grant and collaboration,” she stated.
She further explained that documenting progress in collaboration with the Ford Foundation is essential to strengthening the social justice ecosystem in Nigeria.
“I believe having an organisation as big as the Ford Foundation stand behind us, stand behind our work, and affirm that they believe in us—and in our quest to ensure that womens can access, understand, and use technology safely and meaningfully—has made a world of difference.
It has allowed us to grow, to experiment, to test new ideas, and to build community with other civil society organisations. That is really the crux of our event today: to reflect on our work and explore how we can advance it in solidarity, in community, using the limited resources we have to create impact and ensure better outcomes for women and girls.”
In her remarks, Nigerian activist and co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls campaign, Aisha Yesufu, said faith and cultural leaders and institutions have a significant role to play in shaping the terrain of social justice in Nigeria and globally.
“The faith of individuals is at the core of their existence. People are driven by what they believe in. Their convictions shape the way they see the world and perceive others in society. If people must become conscious of social justice, then their faith must translate beyond the four walls of their religious institutions—whether a mosque, church, or traditional ruler’s palace.
“It must shift into their everyday living. They must begin to amplify these values and apply them in their communities.”
She further illustrated how social justice issues manifest in everyday family life:
“For instance, when working with families, we confront the fact that many women feel oppressed in the bedroom. This is not an issue people usually discuss, yet women frequently say, ‘My needs are not met; my husband does not consider me.’
We have included a curriculum on sex and intimacy in our retreats to change the way people think—not just in church, but in their homes. This is why faith and cultural leaders must help people apply what they learn in their daily lives.”
Yesufu highlighted that communities must take responsibility for what happens within them. A community has no identity outside its individuals. If every individual takes responsibility for what happens in their community, they can shape lasting change that can be passed to the next generation.”
