NANA Girls and Women Empowerment Initiative is a non-governmental organisation working in northern Nigeria to help women & girls of rural & poor backgrounds, through scholarships support economic empowerment and entrepreneurial skills training initiatives.

Mission

They collaborate with key actors to provide opportunities that enhance the lives of women, girls, and people living in poverty, towards achieving a just, fair, and inclusive society. 

VISION STATEMENT

A world free from gender discrimination and oppressive power relations affecting women and people living in poverty.

History

Nana started as a community-based initiative in Yauri Emirate in 2008 to improve student academic performance in secondary schools by supporting teachers to provide extra lessons to students interested in pursuing high education. Due to the high rate of unemployment among the youth in the region, Nana developed an interest in giving financial support to youth and women to expand on their existing business.

After two years of experience, Nana decided to collaborate with an existing registered Microfinance Bank to manage the disbursement and repayment of loans in line with the microfinance guidelines and rules. Thereafter the focus expanded to support youth and women to start up a business or to expand on an existing business as a socio-economic empowerment scheme.

The organization was registered with the Cooperate affairs in 2015 and expanded its operation in Birnin-Kebbi and Sokoto states. Nana believes in innovative, scalable, and cost effective interventions that empower women and girls and provide them with opportunities to challenge the existing gender inequality. Nana as an organization is passionate about girls and women and cherishes integrity, equity, and justice. The strength of the NANA team is deep local knowledge and a good understanding of the gender issues that facilitate and hinder women’s path to empowerment as well as engagement with government, religious and traditional institutions, and leadership.