GSAI Urges AMAC to Address Women's Education and Community Challenges in FCT

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First on the Left: GSAI Programme Officer Grace Udie at the AMAC office during an advocacy visit in Abuja.

The Gender Strategy Advancement International (GSAI) team paid a courtesy visit to the Executive Chairman of the Abuja Municipal Area Council (AMAC), Hon. Christopher Zakka Maikalangu, who was represented by the Honorable Speaker, Dr. Matthew Danjuma Yare (PhD), at the AMAC office.

During the visit, GSAI’s Program Lead, representing the Executive Director, highlighted the critical role AMAC and its representatives play in addressing key issues identified in GSAI’s investigative research. This research forms part of the Gender, The Agenda collaborative media project, which is supported by the Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism and the MacArthur Foundation.

One of the primary concerns discussed was the quality and accessibility of education for women and girls in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), with particular emphasis on the Waru community. The findings from GSAI’s report revealed significant challenges, such as poor infrastructure and the inadequate implementation of educational reforms, which hinder progress in the region.

GSAI also introduced the GSAI Community Women Vanguards (GCWV), who represent the six area councils in the FCT. The team stressed the importance of the vanguards in advocating for women’s needs and ensuring their voices are heard in community-level decision-making.

In response, the Office of the Executive Chairman expressed its unwavering commitment to supporting GSAI’s mission, pledging to enhance security, education, and the empowerment of women, girls, and persons with disabilities within these communities.

GSAI further presented its baseline report on women’s political participation and a detailed analysis of gender budget dynamics, both developed under the Gender, The Agenda project with support from the Wole Soyinka Center for Investigative Journalism and the MacArthur Foundation.

The AMAC leadership assured GSAI of continued collaboration in promoting gender equality and driving community development across the FCT.

 

RECOMMENDATIONS

1.     Priotization of infrastructural improvements in schools, especially in underserved areas like the Waru community.

2.     Implementation of more initiatives that foster greater women’s political participation.

3.  collaborations focusing on continuous monitoring and evaluation of gender-related programs, community empowerment initiatives, and the implementation of GSAI's recommendations.

The AMAC leadership pledged ongoing cooperation with GSAI to support gender equity and foster community development throughout the FCT for women, girls, and persons with disabilities.

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