On October 15, 2024, in commemoration of the International Day of Rural Women, the much-anticipated PoliServe Dialogue, organized by TechHerfrica, took place, gathering rural women, policymakers, and private sector leaders to address the challenges faced by women in underserved communities.
Themed “Enhancing Livelihoods of Rural Women through Stakeholder Collaboration,” the event marked a significant step towards creating practical solutions for financial exclusion, digital literacy, and access to business opportunities for rural women.
Imade Bibowei-Osuobeni, CEO of TechHerfrica, emphasized the goal of the event: “PoliServe Dialogue simply wants to bring women from underserved communities in the same room with the stakeholders from government and private sectors that create solutions for them. We aim to spark conversations that highlight their challenges, highlight their needs, and get the government and business leaders to create solutions that meet those challenges and make their lives better for it.”
The event featured a dynamic lineup of partners and stakeholders, including representatives from the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC), Fidelity Bank, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, and the EcoSteward Humanitarian Foundation. These organizations addressed critical issues such as business formalization, digital literacy, climate resilience, and gender-based violence, all while emphasizing the need for collaboration to drive meaningful change.
Olanrewaju Alaka, founder of Laerryblue Media, highlighted the importance of collective action, stating, “Today, we have a couple of stakeholders present at the event, ranging from CAC to different institutions coming together to support the rural market women, to ensure that they are well served and their voices are heard. And also, to ensure that they are able to feed their families and create a greater impact in society.”
The dialogue proved to be a crucial platform for rural women to voice their experiences directly to policymakers and private sector leaders. Discussions covered a broad range of topics, including access to finance, sustainable agricultural practices, and gender-based violence. Laerryblue Media and the Laerryblue Foundation, key partners of the event, played significant roles in ensuring that these conversations led to actionable solutions.
One of the most powerful moments came when Irene Ewa, a representative from the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, expressed her commitment to future collaborations. “This is the NGO we would like to partner with. As a national body, representing the government, we want the rural women; their voices to be heard. It will give them a sense of belonging and will also let them contribute to national development,” Ewa noted.
Another notable figure present at the event was Chinasa Collins, a financial inclusion advocate, who highlighted the importance of women in the nation. She stated that the chants made by the women prior to the event which says, “No women, no nation” shows that women uphold the nation. An excerpt of her words read, “Women are a critical part, a critical segment for us. Women are the most excluded from a lot of things; common financial services, access to health and all sorts of things.”
The dialogue also addressed environmental issues, as climate change continues to disproportionately affect rural women in Nigeria. TechHerfrica, with its partners, emphasized the importance of integrating climate resilience strategies into rural development programs, particularly for women whose livelihoods depend on agriculture.
The PoliServe Dialogue successfully brought together rural women and stakeholders. Women shared their challenges, and stakeholders made commitments to support their empowerment. Representatives from SMEDAN, FCT IRS, UN Women, and private sector organizations attended. The event concluded with gifts for the women and renewed hope for change. We eagerly anticipate the fulfillment of commitments, improving livelihoods and amplifying rural women’s voices.
Participants left with a sense of optimism, knowing that the discussions were just the beginning as the event concluded. The collaborations initiated at the PoliServe Dialogue have set the stage for long-term solutions that will improve the lives of rural women across Nigeria. TechHerfrica’s leadership in facilitating this landmark event has been widely praised, as it successfully brought the challenges of rural women to the forefront of national attention.