“No country can truly flourish if it stifles the potential of its women and deprives itself of the contribution of half its citizens.” – Michelle Obama

Gidan Waya is a small town and headquarters of the Godogodo chiefdom approximately 18 kilometers from Kafanchan in Jema’a Local Government Area of Kaduna State Nigeria with an estimated population of 35,200 according to the 2006 population census.

Although the population is almost evenly spread between the genders, women were left out of decision making for centuries with the traditional council made up entirely of men. Even when it came to making decisions affecting women, women were neither consulted nor represented; a situation which left women marginalized, relegated, ignored and despised.

Above: Gidan Waya traditional Council Godogodo Chiefdom Kaduna State Nigeria has excluded women for hundreds of years

The Joint Initiative for Strategic Religious Action (JISRA), a consortium of three international non governmental organizations (NGOs) namely Tearfund, Search for Common Ground, and Mensen met een Missie are working with six local implementing partners to change the narrative. Some of these include Dialogue, Reconciliation and Peace (DREP) Centre, Development Initiative of West Africa (DIWA), Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN), JPRM RURCON, and SUWA.

The JISRA program aims to address and transform intra, inter and extra religious dynamics in Nigeria to promote and protect freedom of religion and belief (FoRB). RURCON is implementing in communities across Plateau and Kaduna States in Nigeria.

Rurcon working with JISRA on numerous projects including advocacy on women inclusion, inspired local women in Gidan Waya to begin to meet together; brainstorming effective ways to change the harmful norms and practices that have excluded them from participating in decision making that affects them particularly at the council level.

Above: Maryamu Garba, elected first ever women representative of Gidan Wada Traditional Council in 2022

The JISRA project provided a safe space for Muslim and Christian women in Gidan Waya to establish and strengthen relationships. Working together, they were able to demand for inclusion in the decision making process through advocacy visits to the District Head and the traditional Council.

As a direct result of concerted advocacy by a united and committed group of community women, Maryamu Garba became the first elected women representative of the Gidan Waya Traditional Council, thereby giving women a voice and representation not only in matters affecting, but the community at large.

A significant take-home from this case study is the fact that, since women and men play different roles in society and have different needs, interests and priorities, women cannot be adequately represented in decision-making by men alone.

Above: Maryamu Garba, the only woman in an all male traditional council

Dinatu Ayinzat is Executive Director at RURCON