FIRST NIGERIAN PAN-AFRICAN WOMEN'S DAY

 The 31st of July every year is the day the Pan-African Women's Day is celebrated on the continent. The big deal, however, is that the day is officially celebrated for the very first time in Nigeria. The venue was the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women's Development MBNCWD) led by its Director-General, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi. The Minister of Women Affairs, Hon. Iman Suleima-Ibrahim was the Chair of the week-long celebration between 27th July and 1st August 2026. The theme for 2026: 'We rise with one voice, one legacy, one Africa'...

L-R: Dr. Ts'gye Rachel Leslie (ED The African Historical Society - AHS/Keynote Speaker) & Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa

Some of the activities at the week long celebration supported by UNDP, AU and UN Women were:

*The Maryam Babangida legacy experience

*The first edition of the 'International Gender Conference organised by the Organisation for Gender Advancement & Education Development International (OGAEDI) in collaboration with the MBNCWD & Yakubu Gowon University's Centre for Gender Studies & Youth Advancement (CGSYA)

*African First Ladies legacy archives

*African Women Futures Forum & Trade Show

*Immersive cultural display

*Women who built Africa: Tribute segment

*Pan-Africa women's innovation on display

*African women's fashion Heritage pavillion

*African women green futures forum

*Hall of Fame immersive experience 

The MBNCWD was a beehive of activity for a whole week. Vendors displayed bespoke clothes, food items, farm produce and sundry products. A major highlight of the celebration was the first edition of the 'International Gender Conference by OGEADI in collaboration with the MBNCWD and CGSYA - Yahubu Gowon University on the 30th of July. Esther Wghobamien (newly elected Nigerian member of the CEDAW Committee at the UN), Dr. Irene Kemi DaSilva-Ibru (Physician/Social Activist/Gender Advocate against SGBV) and a representative of the VC Nassarawa State University - Prof Saadatu Hassan Liman were Keynote speakers. The theme of the Conference was Gender, Globalisation & Good Governance with 19 sub-themes on Education, Health, Science & Technology, Mass Media & Literature, Culture, ICT, National Development, Environment, Economy, Arts & Humanities, Family, Electoral System, Service Delivery & Public Service, Sports, Law, Religion, Gender identity & Identity Politics, Women in leadership, etc. Kudos to Dr. Peter Adeyanju, President/CEO OGEADI for pulling off the spectacular Conference in collaboration with critical stakeholders!

L-R: Prof. Grace John-Kia (ABU/Co-anchor of Panel Discussion) & Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa (Consultant to DG MBNCWD/Anchor Panel Discussion) with the photo of the Hon. Minister of Women Affairs - Iman Ibrahim-Suleiman (in the background)

On the 31st of August, the Keynote Speaker for the first Nigerian Pan-African Women's Day, Dr. Ts'gye Rachel Leslie gave profound insights from the podium as regards the heroism of African women even before colonialism. Women in some African countries had mastered techniques to prevent flooding, which they shared across borders. It was indeed a successful week-long celebration. I look forward to the next edition...

                                          L-R: Prof. Grace John-Kia & Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa

INVICTUS AFRICA & THE VOTER PREFERENCE SURVEY (VPS)

 The Voter Preference Survey (VPS), was launched by INVICTUS Africa on the 4th of August 2026 in Abuja. This event was novel. I have attended editions of the yearly 'Womanity Index' Reports by INVICTUS, which lay bare credible statistics as regards the status, well being, perception and sundry indices specifically relating to the Nigerian woman. But this launch...was different. It was about voter preference as regards three distinct under-represented demographics: Women, Persons With Disability (PWDs) and the Youth. I was assured that the Womanity Index Report would come up later this year. I must at the outset commend the doggedness of the ED of INVICTUS, Buky Sonibare and her team for this exceptional Report that gives us startling revelations backed by facts and figures rather than mere speculation...

 L-R: Ms. Joy Edo (Invictus Africa) & Dr, Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa. Note that Joy's T-shirt has inscribed on it the percentage for one of the demographics. Ingenious, ain't it?

Three publications were launched. 'A national survey of voter attitudes, post voting behaviour & future voting intentions ahead of Nigeria's 2027 elections'.... 1) Would you vote for a Woman? 2) Would you vote for a PWD? 3) Would you vote for a Youth? 

This is the cover page of one of the three publications by INVICTUS Africa titled: 'Would you vote for a woman?'

What did INVICTUS find out about the willingness to vote for women? 

*Information Sources: Only 1 in 4 voters (26.7%) rely exclusively exclusively on digital & social media for political information. The implication of this is that traditional media (radio, TV, newspapers, Political Parties, Religious institutions, Influential individuals, etc. are also relevant)

*Past Voting Behaviour: Only 3 in 10 voters (30.9%) have ever voted for a woman candidate in any election since 1999.

*Voter Influence: 4 in 10 (42%) voters acknowledge being influenced by someone.

*Why Voters Supported Women: Nearly half (48.4%) of past supporters were driven purely by candidate-centred factors, such as track record.

*Voter Openness: More than 6 in 10 (64.4%) voters say they will vote for a woman in 2027.

*Who is most likely to commit: Female voters lead commitment @ 70.3% vs 59.1% for male voters. This is important because for me, it shows that women are always ready to support women unlike the negative narrative that they don't!

*Where Openness Has Limits: Nearly 3 in 10 (28.2%) confirmed 2027 voters have not yet committed to a female candidate.

*What it takes to win their vote: More than half of the voters (55.1%) would support a female candidate on merit alone, not just because she's a woman.

The Report then went on to analyse what the numbers mean. The research method was very thorough. We need to note that the VPS was self-funded! INVICTUS needs sponsors to undertake the post-election survey to validate or debunk some of findings pre-election. The intention of voters may not necessarily translate to the desired results during and post-election.

According to INVICTUS, 12,444 individuals responded to the survey questionnaire across Nigeria's 36 states and the FCT. Following systematic data cleaning and quality assurance screening, 1,248 records were excluded because they did not satisfy specified quality control criteria. This yielded a final analytical sample of 11,196 respondents. Over 100 enumerators were sent to the field!

 L-R: Mrs. Anita Zugwai-Chukwu, Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa & Ms. Bukky Sonibare. Note that Bukky's T-shirt has the percentage of one of the demographics inscribed on it...

To get a clearer picture from the three reports, they can be accessed on line and hard copies can be sourced via INVICTUS Africa. I have given snipets of only one of these reports in this short Blog post, but I can assure you that that the two other reports are also illuminating. Kudos once more to Bukky Shonibare and her incredible team. They are doing an incredible job even while self-sponsored. Please support INVICTUS Africa so that they can do even more...I look forward to the post election VPS...

                                          Download the three VPS Reports via the link above...

 

  
 

AI & CONTEMPORARY ART

 The exhibition of the outcomes of the STARTS 'Afropean' Intelligence Residency supported by the EU and hosted in Nigeria by Gallery of Code at Institute Francais, Abuja was held on the 26th of June 2026. I was a valued participant at the invitation of the Oscar Ekponimo, Founder Gallery of Code/Inventor Chowberry App. See also dayokusa.blogspot.com/2018/08/artificial-intelligence-ai-africa.html; dayokusa.blogspot.com/2026/02/art-in-age-of-artificial-intelligence,ai.html...Four artistes were featured:

*Peace Olatunji (Nigerian) - Inputs into pixels for AI animation

*Dan Xu (Chinese) - Egungun (Masquerade) as a metaphor

*Emmanuel Ndefo (Nigerian) - Egungun (Masquerade) as a metaphor

*Pierre-Christophe Gam (Camerounian) - The projected Living conditions of Africans in the year 2065

   L-R: Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa, Peace Olatunji, Emmanuel Ndefo & Dan Xu " the exhibition

Dan Xu and Emmanuel Ndefo displayed their work on the Masquerade as a metaphor while synchronising sound with gongs simulated on a computer. It was a sight to behold! Dan was simulating while Emmanuel was dancing (as if he was in a trance) to the rhythm. Peace Olatunji was interested in the inclusion of African elements in prixels that are inputs into computer images so that they more accurately reflect indigenous knowledge. Peace's worry was that images generated for African Mosques and Churches for example, reflected Euro-American counterparts - this is not useful for the African artistes using such prompts...

Pierre-Christophe Gam's focus was Africa in the year 2065 and beyond. Virtual Reality (VR), to which I was exposed, was his medium. While experiencing VR, I saw how Africans are likely to pray, eat, play, live together, etc. by the year 2065. I 'moved' from one room to the other for each of these experiences. Kudos to all the artistes for their unique creativity. I look forward to subsequent exhibitions that depict further development of their various forms of art while commending Gallery of Code and Alliance Francais for providing the platform for such artistic excellence...

Dan Xu explaining the simulation/synchronisation of the Masquerade to the audience. The Masquerade dummy is behind Dan...

R-L: Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa listening to Dan Xu synchronising with Emmanuel Ndefo (2nd from right with his hand to his ear) 'dancing' to the beat...

Image from the 'Dark Room' where I saw what Peace Olatunji & I complained about as inaccurate representation of Mosques in Nigeria and indeed Africa because the Pixels fed into the system were Euro-American. It's time for us to have more African Pixel inputs if African artistes are to achieve a level playing field as regards the use of AI...

Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa experiencing Virtual Reality as regards projected life in Africa in the year 2065 and beyond. It was indeed a terrific experience...

Image from the 'Dark Room' where I experienced life in Africa in 2065 and beyond as projected by Pierre-Christophe Gam...

   

 

 

3 YEARS OF RENEWED HOPE INITIATIVE (RHI) IN THE FCT

 On the 23rd of June 2026, the Renewed Hope Initiative (RHI) FCT's third anniversary was celebrated with fanfare at the Banquet Hall of the Presidential Villa, Abuja. According to Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, Coordinator of RHI - FCT, Pioneer Mandate Secretary Women Affairs Secretariat (WAS-FCTA) and newly appointed Director-General Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Develpoment (MBNCWD), 27,345 citizens have so far benefitted from the scheme in the FCT. 

Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa with First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu in the background @ the event

Beneficiaries told touching stories of survival, growth and hope. First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu said 'The success of the RHI should be judged by the number of lives transformed. The testimonies from the FCT represent a fraction of the work we have done across the nation.' Present at the event were beneficiaries, government officials, traditional rulers and development partners. The FCT RHI report shows that 27,375 citizens benefitted in three years. The breakdown is as follows: The programme reached 3,307 children, 4,427 were economically empowered, 4,866 benefitted in food security and agriculture, 970 persons with disability (PWDs) were impacted, 550 elderly persons above 65 years old benefitted, 4,423 persons empowered via social protection and system strengthening...

The Coordinator, Dr. Benjamins-Laniyi said: 'Our work focused on enabling households improve food production, supporting income-generating activities, protecting children and vulnerable adults and strengthening local systems to continue services beyond our direct interventions. The initiative was built around five strategic pillars and more than 15 major interventions - vocational training, micro-grants and market linkages, food/agricultural interventions (provision of inputs, training in improved farming techniques and post harvest support).

These interventions have translated to keeping businesses afloat as against liquidation, buy supplies, pay school fees, expand a trade, etc. For 50 year old Martha Demu, a.k.a. Loud It, a tailor and shoe maker, RHI has transformed her life by giving her a sewing machine and shoemaking tools. Martha sells her shoes for as much as N40,000. She said she was directionless before benefitting from the RHI programme. RHI moved Martha from dependence to dignity. The programme has helped her teach others the art of shoemaking.

The journey of the RHI started on the 7th of July 2023 with the inaugural meeting at State House. The first intervention came on July 13 2023 with support for flood victims in Trademore Estate, Lugbe, Abuja. The support for the RHI by the Minister & Minister of State for the FCT was duly acknowledged. The First Lady praised Dr. Benjamins-Laniyi for her dedication to the ideals of the RHI programme, which contributed immensely to her success as Coordinator.

Others who spoke were the Minister of Women Affairs - Hon. Iman Suleiman-Ibrahim, wife of the Onah of Abaji - Hajia Hauwa Ibrahim Baba (President of the 17 wives of the FCT Traditional Rulers Association); President of the Defence & Police Officers' Wives Association (DEPOWA) - Mrs. Meman Femi-Oluyede; 10 year old Temidayo (Elicited spoken word in honour of the First Lady); Beneficiaries of the RHI FCT NITDA programme (Girls in Tech); The Elderly; Persons With Disability (PWDs); Market Women and Women Leaders.

On the whole, the 6 Area Councils, 62 Wards and 17 Tribal Chiefdoms in the FCT have been positively impacted by the RHI proramme...

LEADING WITH OUR HUMANITY

 The headline for this post is the title of the book written by Amina Salihu, Ph.D, mni. The book was presented to the public on the 22nd of May at Yar'Adua Centre, Abuja. The foreword was written by Leymah Gbowee (Nobel Peace Laureate). Lest I forget that the event entailed a triple celebration:

*Presentation of Amina Salihu's (Deputy Director, McArthur Foundation) book to the public. Title of book - Leading with our humanity: Elevating communities through gender equity & social inclusion (GESI)

*Celebration of the National Institute for Policy & Strategic Studies (NIPSS) - Senior Executive Course 45. These were classmates of the author, Amina Salihu...

*The yearly Colloquium of 'The School of Politics', founded by Dr. Oby Ezekwesili (Former Minister - Nigeria & Former Vice President, World Bank)

'Leading with Humanity: Elevating communities through gender equity & social inclusion' by Amina Salihu

Spoken word by Asinat the Poet caught my attention:

They told us that community is a location

But community is a promise

Community is the centre

When we don't lead with humanity

Then our sisters are stripped by vulture-like men

This is becoming normal

Whole families left homeless in their home territories

We say 'no' to inequality, to being treated without equity

Tired of keeping quiet in the face of bullies just to keep safe

This is our reality

But we must do better

Let's lead with our humanity...

Then came Ms. Toyin Akinniyi (Vice President Africa - Luminate):

We must all lead with our humanity whenever we can - Lima Buwi

It's a call to our inner courage, which if we pay attention, is always present in a way. Development is freedom. But freedom is not distributed equally when GESI is absent.

Amina Salihu

If losing my voice for one day could elicit so much disruption for me and others, then I can imagine the everyday reality for those who are deaf and/or cannot talk! We should lead with the power of our philosophy, not just our voices. We need more positive collaborations like the 'G4'. Your job as a humane intercessor is never done, so keep learning. This book will challenge your 'who gets a seat at the table decisions'. I hope we nurture a better world through this book. At an earlier forum, Amina described herself as an 'Activator Feminist' - a catalyst that activates noble causes. See for example, dayokusa.blogspot.com/2025/03/nigeria-peer-review-community-of.html

Amina was given a gift by members of NIPSS Senior Executive Course 45. Dr. Salihu then went on to verbalise some nuggets:

*Power is most visible in what it takes...The Village Square Conversation: Politics is local, everything is political. Everyone must count. The grassroots can teach the blade of the grass some truth.

*Don't take grassroots people for granted. How does every penny we spend improve the lives of the citizens, especially the rural dwellers? 

*Bring gratitude and appreciative inquiry into every discourse

Every March 8, International Women's Day, I write two letters: One to a male icon and the other to a female icon. To be in a community is to co-create innovative issues. We must elevate our communities if we are to rise...

Snipets from the book

*Barr. Chinwe Ndubueze mni (EFCC/Senior Executive Course 1994) - read page 32 xxii para1. 'Keep actors shaping GESI

*Abubakar Sadiq Umar read para 2, page 3, chapter 3.

 'We have always placed people at the centre of our work, honouring the world in which we live and serve. It could hardly be otherwise with Kole Shettima, member Leadership Advisory Team...The question is always asked: 'How does our work improve the quality of life of the poor, for every penny we spend?'

*Ishaya Bako (ED Bako Studios)

We should drive change through values. Change does not occur in isolation. Attending to the ecosystem ensures equity. Emphasis then shifts from short term outputs to long term positive transformation...

*Toun Okewale-Sonaiya (Chair, Board of Directors Women Radio): page 126 on GESI

We should appoint dedicated gender staff. Story-telling can promote gender norms at the community level.

*Prof. Stanley Udedi, mni read chapter 18, page 176

There should be practical GESI workplan guide for teams and allies in every practice. The Participation, Action, Reach & Knowledge (PARK) framework is a practical GESI workplace guide designed for busy policymakers.

*Medina (Grade 5, 'Not Forgotten' FCT School) read page 231

Mercedes luxury buses are of course in a class of their own. They have re-invented the English language, turning it on its head and truly owning it like a sort of extended family member's right to name the child - after all, we are related to the English by colonialism.

*Hajia Amina Jumba Bida read page 231

'Summary of blessings'...Risks, opportunities, reaching the target audience at the right time...We are inclusive.

It was then announced that there's an abridged version of the book with foreword by Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi (Former First Lady of Ekiti State/Co-Founder AMANDLA)

Dr. Oby Ezekwesili (Founder School of Politics - SPPG/Former President World Bank)

I founded SPPG because I realised that if we do not groom a more credible alternative to the contemporary process of selection and mentoring into the political process, then we as Nigerians will remain stuck! At SPPG we are raising the next generation of leaders ethically. GESI should remain the framework for inclusivity in our society...Community is not geographic alone. The theme for the annual SPPG Colloquium this year is quite apt: Community acting as one is the antidote to bad governance...

A major take home for me was the fact that the Book Presentation was not seen as a money-making venture as is the case with similar endeavours. The book was given free of charge to all attendees. Those who came very late and could not get copies can scan the back of the pamphlet for the event and download the book for free! This is the way to go. Congrats to Amina Salihu and her incrdible team for this professionally packaged event. I wish you more ink in your pen...

        Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa with the banner for the Book Presentation in the background

THE ROLE OF AI IN INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

 On the 30th of April 2026, Dialogue House - BPIA Discussion Group held a virtual parley which involved participants from many countries. I was a valued speaker form Nigeria. The theme of the discussion was: The role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in international development & its impact on our environment.

                                                           Poster for the virtual discussion

The Moderator was Jennifer Stephen, Co-Chair Dialogue House. Apart from the six speakers, there were fifty other participants. The speakers were:

*Jonathan Cummings (Former BPIA Board Member)

*Welton O'Neal III (Policy Analyst Forge Group LLC)

*Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa (Consultant Gender & Conflict Transformation)

*Samuel Nixon Jr. (CEO/Founder AI & Workforce Development)

*Columbus Tabuo (AI Engineer/Founder UNREAL)

*Jasmine Rename (Research Programme Manager in Clinical Psychology)

In my intervention, I concentrated on my niche: Gender, Conflict Transformation & Peacebuilding. AI appears in my work with women thus: 

*Combating  Technology-Facilitated Gender-Based Violence (TFGBV)

-AI powered reporting tools e.g. AI Chatbots (like 'Her Safe Space') that allow survivors of GBV to report abuse via WhatsApp. This App offers real time support in local languages.

-Mapping Hotspots: AI geo-spatial tools can analyse social media and text-based reports to identify high risk areas for GBV across Nigeria's six geo-political zones

-Deepfakes could be combated. For example, pornography targeting Nigerian women in public life can be detected via ethical frameworks. Non-consensual sexual imagery is then exposed for what it is.

*Conflict Transformation...

-AI shows up not as a replacement for human empathy, but as a powerful augmenting tool that enhances my ability to analyse, prevent and resolve complex disputes. It shifts my practice from reactive conflict transformation/resolution to its proactive form. This ia achieved through data-driven insights, identified communication patterns and facilitation of more inclusive dialogue.

-Proactive Early Warning Systems (EWSs). Predictive analysis via identification of common patterns, sentiment shifts, identification of conflict hot spots, etc.

-Data Mining: Machine Learning (ML) Algorithms that identify patterns of social unrest and political instability

-Monitoring risks: AI tracks changes in economic indicators, social narratives, etc. in order to predict flashpoints.

-Simulation/Role Play: AI-driven scenarios in the practice of Negotiation, Mediation and Crisis Management.

*Post-Conflict Transformation and Peacebuilding (PB)

-Evaluation and analysis of Peace Agreements/Intervention Strategies

-Resource Mapping to distribute aid equitably

*Concerns

-AI Solutionism: Note that AI cannot resolve all human-centred conflict. AI should support, not replace human empathy and context-aware judgement

-Algorithm Bias from Training Data & Skewed Recommendations

Closing Remarks: Many of the speakers were of the view that ethical AI should be more seriously enforced in the delicate age of 'Humanoids'. AI cannot replace real-time human connection in all sectors. AI can shorten the time for data analysis and the detection of patterns in society...I look forward to the next edition of the dialogue series,,,

FCT WOMEN POST CSW 70 LEADERSHIP COLLOQUIUM

 On the 7th of April 2026, UN Women was host to Women Affairs Secretariat (WAS) FCTA at UN House in Abuja. The parley was to analyse policies, platforms and partnerships consequential to the post Convention on the Status of Women (CSW) 70 era in the FCT and beyond. CSW 70 was held between the 9th and 19th of March 2026. The theme was 'Rights, Justice & Action'. At least 37 member states were unanimous that access to justice is non-negotiable.

Banner for the FCT Women post CSW 70 parley where leaders championed relevant policies, platforms & partnerships

Some of the agreed conclusions at CSW 70 were:

*There should be equitable legal systems

*Abolish structural barriers that limit women

*The Universal Declaration of Human Rights & the Beijing Declaration should always be taken into consideration

*There should be safe, enabling and violence-free environment for women/girls

*There should be adequate funding for women's programmes/issues via gender-responsive budgeting i.e. resources should be allocated where needed

L-R: Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa, Krittayawan Tina Boonto (UNAIDS Country Director Nigeria), Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi (Mandate Secretary WAS-FCTA) & Aanu Benjamins-Laniyi (Daughter of MS-WAS)

Ms. Beatrice Eyong (UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria & ECOWAS) represented the UN Resident & Humanitarian Coordinator. If all humans are born free and equal, why is it that in 2026 women still do not have their freedom? Women cannot gain if there's no justice. Nigeria has a private sector led Sexual & Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) Prevention & Response Coalition. UN Women suports the activities of the coalition. There's a viable Sex Offenders' Register which should be updated regularly.

Dr. Princess Jumai Idonije (SA Technical to the Minister of Women Affairs) represented the Minister). 2026 has been declared by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the Year of Families. Social security measures cover at least 10 million households. The Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention covers the 774 Local Government Area in the country - clean energy and secure livelihoods are a germane part of the deal. There's also the Women's Digital Harmony Initiative - the Happy Women's Hour. Over 20 million women have been mentored. There is the National Electronic Dashboard for reporting SGBV cases. Survivor support systems are in place. The Care Economy is now officially recognised. Unpaid work is scrutinised.

We need strong legal/policy frameworks like the National Women Economic Policy & VAPP Act. Beyond domestication, there should be gazetting and affirmative procurement systems. Apart from gender budgeting, there shouls be social inclusion. Women's participation in Parliament in Nigeria is below 10%, this should improve. Positive Masculinity should be adopted as a strategy. The National Boychils Policy is in order.

Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi (Mandate Secretary WAS-FCTA) reeled out some of the economic and social empowerment programmes initiated by her since she was appointed MS:

*Gender & Human Security: Focus on Women in the FCT. This is in collaboration with the University of Abuja (now Yakubu Gowon University) & the Office of the Security Adviser, FCT.

*The Abuja Accelerators project supported by UN Women  

*The Cassava (Apu) Women's project supported by UN Women

*Box Out GBV project in collaboration with NSCDC

A number of  WAS-FCTA associates gave solidarity messages: Wife of the Ona of Abaji, President NCWS - Princess Edna Azura, Mama Connect (A grassroots politician), etc. The various Departments within WAS-FCTA presented a synopsis of their work at the Secretariat.

In my intervention as Consultant to MS-WAS on WPS (Women, Peace & Security), I talked about the conference on 'Gender & Human Security: Focus on Women in the FCT'...It was a three-layered conference held in 2024. It began in March with engagement with WDOs (Women Development Officers). The WDOs elicited the rather similar security challenges in the six Area Councils of the FCT. Then came the Pre-Conference in June, where the other Secretariats in FCTA were invited to highlight the intersection of their work with security issues. They were unanimous that security of the FCT was and still is a cross-cutting issue. Without security, there can be no development. 

The Conference proper was a pot pourri of issues: Transportation, Health, Social Services, Agriculture, Education, AI (Artificial Intelligence), WWDs (Women With Disability), Safety in the digital space, Role of NSCDC in FCT security, Youth community engagement, Role of the Armed Forces, Self-safety AI tools for women, Food safety and CC (Climate Change). The issues were exhaustively discussed with a vision to make it an annual coference. But lack of funds continues to be a major deterrent in view of the fact that the conference could hold last year. We hope that we can hold it this year with the theme: Safety of FCT Women in Agriculture.

It was a robust meeting that connected the dots between the takeaways from the CSW 70 Conference and the work of WAS-FCTA. We look forward to CSW 71...

             Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa @ the WAS-FCTA Post CSW 70 Leadership Meeting