By Philip Yatai
Helpline Social Support Initiative (HSSI), a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), has described traditional rulers’ wives as a vital lifeline for women in rural communities across the nation.
President of the NGO, Dr Jumai Ahmadu, stated this at a symposium organised to commemorate the 2026 International Rural Women’s Day, in Abuja on Wednesday.
The symposium was organised by the Association of Wives of FCT Traditional Rulers (WOFCTTRA), in collaboration with the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat.
Represented by HSSI Programme Officer, Mrs Amina Omale, the president said the traditional leaders’ wives’ association was already transforming lives across the FCT.
She said that WOFCTTRA was founded with support from the former FCT Minister of State, Hajiya Ramatu Aliyu, and had been providing continuous backing for all initiatives that empower rural women.
Emphasising that meaningful national growth must begin from the bottom up, Ahmadu called on all states of the federation to join the movement and replicate the initiative.
According to her, the move will accelerate grassroots development, foster peace, and promote gender equality.
“It will also guarantee a faster way to development because development starts from the grassroots with the association as the bridge.
“The association is the voice of peace and the safety net for women and girls when faced with continuous challenges.
“Therefore, it is important for us to have such associations in all rural areas of Nigeria,” she added.
She reaffirmed the NGO’s dedication to supporting gender equality, peacebuilding, and sustainable community development across rural communities in the FCT.
“HSSI celebrates all rural women in the FCT. We appreciate all your good works, and we want to commend the association and its collaborators for seeing this day,” she said.
Earlier, Hajiya Hauwa Adamu, Queen of Abaji Chiefdom and President of WOFCTTRA, described Aliyu as the association’s “foundational mother” who nurtured it from an initial concept into reality.
Adamu also recognised Ahmadu as a “mentor, big sister, and organisational guide” to the association.
She equally commended Dr Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, Director-General, Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, for providing the association its first office.
She added that Benjamins-Laniyi, the pioneer Mandate Secretary of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, also facilitated linkages with the UN House in Abuja.
“She also enabled our participation at the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) in New York,” she said.
The president also commended the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, the Grand Matron of the association for her unquantifiable support to the group.
She said that the first lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative has continued to deliver tangible support—ranging from grinding machines and agricultural inputs to educational scholarships, directly to rural women. (NAN)
Edited by Folasade Akpan
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