IMMEDIATE RELEASE
28 September 2026
Abuja, Nigeria
Centre LSD to Train Gender Desk Officers, Traditional and Faith Leaders, Women’s Rights Organisations on Gender Mainstreaming and GBV Prevention
The African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD), with funding from the Ford Foundation, will commence a two-day training on gender mainstreaming from Tuesday, 29 to Wednesday, 30 September 2026, for Gender Desk Officers, traditional and faith leaders, and Women’s Rights Organisations in Abuja.
The training, which is being organised under the Women Can Lead (WCL) Project, a 24-month initiative focused on strengthening women’s participation and leadership in governance and decision-making, is designed to strengthen participants’ capacity to integrate gender considerations into institutional and community processes, prevent gender-based violence (GBV), promote safe and appropriate responses to GBV, and clarify the roles of different stakeholders in advancing gender-responsive governance.
According to Ms. Praise Enang, Acting Director of Development and Project Lead:
“Strengthening the capacity of key actors is essential to creating institutions and communities where women and girls can participate meaningfully, exercise leadership and contribute to decision-making without discrimination or violence.”
During the two-day training, participants will build knowledge and practical skills around gender, power and GBV prevention; GBV response and referral; relevant laws and confidentiality; institutional and community action; and engagement with men and influential leaders.
The training will also provide an opportunity for participants to identify practical steps for strengthening collaboration among institutions, traditional and faith leaders, and civil society organisations.
Participants are expected to develop joint action plans and make practical commitments towards advancing women’s inclusion, strengthening institutional accountability, and preventing GBV.
About the Women Can Lead Project
The Women Can Lead Project is being implemented in Benue, Kano, and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The project adopts an integrated approach that combines gender mainstreaming, women’s leadership development, institutional accountability, and community-led social norms change to create enabling conditions for women to participate, lead, and influence decision-making.
Through initiatives such as this upcoming training, Centre LSD continues to work with key stakeholders to strengthen gender-responsive governance, challenge harmful social norms, and promote environments where women and girls can exercise their rights and participate fully in leadership and development.
Join the Training Online
Online participants can join the training via Zoom:
Follow Centre LSD
Centre LSD encourages the public to follow updates from the training through its social media platforms:
- Facebook: @centrelsd
- LinkedIn: @centrelsd
- X: @centrelsd
- Instagram: @centrelsd
Signed:
Tracy Irhezaen
Communications Coordinator
African Centre for Leadership, Strategy & Development (Centre LSD)
