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| Women 360 Group | |
|---|---|
| Name | Women 360 Group |
| Formation | 2010s |
| Type | Nonprofit organization |
| Headquarters | Lagos, Nigeria |
| Region served | Africa, Diaspora |
| Leader title | Founder |
| Leader name | unspecified |
| Website | none |
Women 360 Group is a civil society organization focused on women's rights, empowerment, and leadership across Nigeria and parts of West Africa. The group operates programs in advocacy, training, media, and economic inclusion aimed at increasing representation of women in politics, business, and public life. It engages with local communities, regional bodies, and international partners to influence policy and expand opportunities for women.
Founded in the 2010s amid a surge of activism following events like the 2011 Nigerian general election and global campaigns such as UN Women initiatives, the organization emerged from networks of activists, journalists, and civic groups. Its early work intersected with campaigns around the SARS protests era and regional movements like those linked to the Economic Community of West African States policy dialogues. The group drew inspiration from earlier feminist and human rights actors including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, and legacy Nigerian organizations such as Women in Nigeria (WIN) and Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative. Over time it extended collaborations to continental forums including the African Union and pan-African coalitions formed at summits like the African Union Summit.
The stated mission centers on advancing gender equality, political participation, and economic empowerment for women and girls. Objectives include increasing female representation in legislative bodies such as Nigerian National Assembly seats, promoting leadership pathways similar to those of figures like Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and Amina J. Mohammed, and combating gender-based violence highlighted in cases covered by organizations such as The Guardian (Nigeria) and BBC News. The group frames its objectives in alignment with global frameworks such as the Sustainable Development Goals and continental instruments like the Maputo Protocol.
Initiatives span capacity-building workshops, media campaigns, mentorship schemes, and research. Training programs target aspiring candidates for offices like state governorships and local government councils, drawing parallels to leadership development models used by institutes such as Harvard Kennedy School, Ashridge Executive Education, and regional academies like Nigeria Institute of Management. Media work has included partnerships with outlets such as Channels Television, Punch (Nigeria), and ThisDay to highlight women leaders. Economic inclusion efforts have offered entrepreneurship support reflecting practices seen in microfinance partnerships like those of Grameen Bank and development programs by African Development Bank. Research outputs have cited data from sources including the National Bureau of Statistics (Nigeria) and international datasets like those of the World Bank.
The organization operates with an executive team, program leads, and advisory board, often recruiting former civil servants, journalists, and activists comparable to profiles from institutions like BBC World Service, Reuters, and United Nations Development Programme. Local chapters function in Nigerian states and diaspora hubs, mirroring federated models used by groups such as Transparency International and Amnesty International national sections. Governance practices reference standards promoted by bodies like the International Non-Governmental Organisations Accountability Charter and regional oversight from commissions similar to the National Human Rights Commission (Nigeria).
Partnerships include collaborations with international agencies, foundations, and media organizations. Funders and partners have mirrored the profiles of Ford Foundation, Open Society Foundations, MacArthur Foundation, and bilateral donors akin to United States Agency for International Development and British Council programs. The group has engaged with academic institutions such as University of Lagos and Ahmadu Bello University for research, and with networks like African Women Leadership Network and platforms related to Global Fund for Women for project implementation.
Impact claims include increased visibility for female candidates, expanded civic education reach, and contributions to policy dialogues at state and federal levels. Independent media coverage by outlets such as Vanguard (Nigeria), Sahara Reporters, and Premium Times has reported on specific campaigns and events. The organization’s activities have been cited in civil society roundtables convened by entities like the Center for Democracy and Development and referenced in academic work published through universities including University of Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo University.
Critiques have focused on funding transparency, organizational accountability, and alignment with foreign donors—concerns similar to debates around NGOs that received scrutiny in parliamentary hearings and media investigations such as those involving NGO regulatory debates in Nigeria. Some activists and commentators from outlets like TheCable and Leadership (Nigeria) have questioned program impact measurement and the sustainability of donor-driven initiatives. The organization has also faced political pushback when engaging in election-related advocacy, echoing tensions experienced by groups involved in contentious contexts like the 2015 Nigerian general election and subsequent electoral cycles.
Category:Non-profit organizations based in Nigeria