By Ikenna Osuoha
An NGO, New Dawn for Women and Community Intervention Initiative (NEWOMCII), has announced plans to empower women and youth and tackle grassroots poverty across Nigeria.
The initiative, aimed at driving sustainable development, is scheduled for official launch on April 28.
Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Thursday, Founder and Chairman of NEWOMCII, Alhaji Bolaji Raji, said the initiative was borne out of the need to bridge critical gaps in access to opportunities.
Raji said the organisation focused on creating opportunities for women and young people, particularly at the grassroots, following months of strategic engagement and ongoing interventions in communities.
“Today marks a significant moment for us at NEWOMCII.
“Across our communities, many women and young people possess immense potential that must be harnessed,” he said.
He emphasised the need to provide young people with tools, opportunities, and support systems to succeed.
“We saw the gap and decided to be part of the solution in complementing government efforts,” he added.
Raji emphasised that the initiative was designed to move beyond rhetoric by delivering practical, demand-driven empowerment programmes focused on agribusiness, arts, and creative enterprises.
“At the heart of our work is the belief that when women are empowered, families thrive and communities progress,” he said, calling for partnerships across sectors to achieve meaningful impact.
Also speaking, Deputy National Coordinator, Ms. Heather-Ronke Akanni, described the forthcoming inauguration as more than a ceremonial event, noting it would highlight the role of NGOs in national development.
“The national inauguration is not just another gathering. It is an opportunity to showcase how NGOs complement government efforts, as government cannot do it alone,” she said.
Akanni revealed that within a year, NEWOMCII had executed interventions, including donation of agribusiness processing equipment to women and youth in Kuchiko community in Bwari Area Council.
She added that the organisation had supported arts and crafts clusters in Karu and Giri, while also partnering with the Nigeria Police Force and international organisations.
According to her, the initiative aims to expand across all 36 states and 774 local government areas, focusing on empowering women, youth, and vulnerable groups through inclusive and sustainable interventions.
“Our core values centre on innovation, community development, gender mainstreaming, accountability, and transparency,” she said, adding that the group was seeking international recognition, including ECOSOC consultative status.
She said the organisation would enhance economic opportunities in arts and crafts, promote food security through agribusiness, and empower women and youth as drivers of economic growth.
Akanni added that the inauguration was expected to boost awareness, strengthened collaborations, and deepened community-level empowerment for women and young people.
In her remarks, National Coordinator, Hajiya Sa’adatu Adamu, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to grassroots impact and community-driven solutions.
“NEWOMCII is committed to strengthening women and uplifting communities through practical interventions in agribusiness, arts, youth empowerment, and livelihood support,” she said.
Adamu described the press conference as a prelude to the official inauguration and book unveiling, aimed at engaging stakeholders and building strategic partnerships.
She commended the media for its role in amplifying development efforts and shaping narratives that drove meaningful change in society.
The upcoming inauguration will feature panel discussions, exhibitions by stakeholders, unveiling of two research-based books, and awards for individuals and organisations contributing to community development.(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
