The West African Network of Young Women Leaders, a network that works for community mobilization and capacity building of young women aged 18-35 across West Africa and the Sahel of ECOWAS (ROAJELF), held a seminar in Abuja, Monday through Wednesday, this week with the theme, “Strengthening Women’s, Including Young Women’s, Roles in Political Parties and Parliaments in West Africa and the Sahel.”
The three-day seminar was held to strengthen the participation and representation of women and young women in political parties and parliaments.
It featured intensive training sessions for young female political aspirants, advocacy engagements, and strategic dialogues.
Participants explored key topics such as leadership development, electoral frameworks, communication strategies, fundraising for campaigns, and digital literacy for political engagement, alongside mentorship sessions with members of the ECOWAS Parliament, particularly the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association (ECOFEPA).
The Regional President of the Network Madam Miatta Garmai Darwolor, said the event is a movement to empower young women for active political leadership.
Madam Darwolor highlighted the importance of equipping participants with leadership, communication, and digital engagement skills while fostering mentorship and networking opportunities to strengthen their political influence.
She further stressed that “training alone is not enough without structural and legislative reforms to ensure at least 30% representation of young women in political and decision-making spaces.”
Madam Darwolor commended all organising partners such as ECOWAS, EGDC, EPSG project, UNOWAS and UN Women for their steadfast commitment to women’s empowerment and urged participants to use the seminar as a springboard to transform policies into tangible actions that advance gender equality and inclusive governance across the region.
The event was funded by the EU Support to ECOWAS on Peace Security and Governance (EPSG) project – Commissioned by Germany and co-funded by the European Union.
EPSG is implemented by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in partnership with ECOWAS.
The gathering in Abuja serves not only as a leadership transition moment but also as a reaffirmation of ROAJELF’s commitment to empowering young women to take up space and lead boldly in politics, governance, and advocacy across West Africa and the Sahel.
ROAJELF- the Réseau Ouest Africain des Jeunes Femmes Leaders (West African Network of Young Women Leaders)- is a regional platform that brings together dynamic young women from ECOWAS member states. The network promotes women’s leadership and political participation, amplifying young women’s voices in governance, peacebuilding, and decision-making processes across West Africa and the Sahel.
Pictures of participants in different activities at the occasion
