ABUJA/Nigeria: Anioma women and youths in the Federal Capital Territory are working towards a more structured partnership aimed at strengthening political participation, cultural preservation, leadership development and socio-economic opportunities for their people.
The initiative followed a strategic meeting between the Anioma Women Forum Worldwide (AWFW) and the Anioma Youth Forum Worldwide (AYF-W), FCT Chapter, held in Abuja on Friday, September 4, 2026.
The meeting produced an agreement in principle to develop a formal framework for cooperation while allowing both organisations to retain their separate identities and leadership structures.
The discussions centred on political awareness, leadership participation, cultural identity, development advocacy and the need for greater coordination among Anioma stakeholders in the FCT.
Presiding over the meeting, AWFW President General and Founder, Hajiya Ngozi Umunna-Ishola, urged women and youths to prioritise credibility, competence and sustainable opportunities over what she described as short-term political gains.
She cautioned against reducing women to mere mobilisation tools during political activities, arguing that political mobilisation should have clearly defined objectives and adequate planning.
According to her, participants in political engagements should also have their time and welfare properly considered.
Umunna-Ishola reaffirmed the women’s forum’s non-partisan position, saying individual members remained free to support political parties or candidates of their choice.
She stressed, however, that the forum would not impose any political party or candidate on its members.
The AWFW leader also encouraged Anioma women and youths to deepen their understanding of the electoral process and avoid exchanging their votes for temporary financial or material benefits.
She recalled previous voter education and sensitisation initiatives by the organisation, including an electoral engagement during which, she said, 102 women travelled from Abuja.
She said the experience demonstrated the potential of organised collective action when participants were mobilised around clearly defined objectives.
The AYF-W FCT Coordinator, Comrade Chijioke Isiekwene, said the youth organisation initiated the engagement as part of efforts to establish a more meaningful and sustainable relationship with Anioma women in the territory.
He said stronger cooperation between the two groups could improve advocacy around opportunities, appointments, empowerment initiatives, development programmes and participation in governance.
The youth forum also highlighted its interest in political awareness, youth mobilisation and the preservation of Anioma culture and identity, including efforts to encourage the teaching of Anioma dialects.
A major outcome of the meeting was an agreement for AWFW to prepare a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) setting out the framework for the proposed partnership.
The document is expected to define the areas of cooperation, responsibilities of both organisations, communication channels, funding and accountability arrangements, programme implementation and expected outcomes.
It will also provide a mechanism for addressing disagreements that may arise during the implementation of joint activities.
The organisations agreed that their individual structures would remain intact, with joint initiatives coordinated through their respective leaderships.
They also proposed developing a joint action plan covering political education, cultural preservation, leadership development and strategic engagement with government and other stakeholders.
The meeting also considered concerns over the number of Anioma organisations operating in the FCT.
Participants acknowledged the right of different groups to operate independently but noted that excessive fragmentation could make it more difficult for the Anioma community to present a coordinated position when engaging government and other stakeholders.
The proposed AWFW–AYF partnership was consequently presented as an avenue for improved coordination without requiring either organisation to surrender its independence.
AWFW is also expected to participate in the proposed Anioma Youth Forum FCT event scheduled for October 25, 2026, subject to a formal invitation and confirmation.
The meeting ended with a renewed commitment by the participants to unity, transparency, selflessness, cultural preservation and sustainable development.
Dr. Edozie Kingsley of the Anioma Youth Forum led the closing prayer before members of the two organisations posed for a group photograph.
The proposed partnership could provide a broader platform for Anioma women and youths in Abuja to coordinate their interests and pursue greater participation in leadership, governance and development initiatives.
