Overview
Although women make up nearly half of Nigeria’s population, they continue to be vastly underrepresented in politics. Since 1999, only 6% of elected Senators have been women. The Supporting Advancement of Gender Equality (SAGE) project, implemented by NDI with support from USAID, addressed this imbalance by focusing on a critical but often overlooked factor: male support for gender equality.
Centre LSD served as the lead masculinities NGO under the SAGE program, pioneering the integration of masculinity studies into political advocacy. Through strategic training, stakeholder engagement, and capacity building, Centre LSD mobilized men across sectors to become allies, advocates, and champions for women's inclusion in governance.
Project Goal
To remove barriers to women’s political participation by advocating for reform of Nigeria’s legal, policy, and political party frameworks.
Specific Objectives
- Mobilize male stakeholders as change agents for women’s inclusion in governance.
- Build awareness on the role of men in supporting gender equality in Nigeria’s political processes.
- Support advocacy efforts for constitutional and electoral reforms promoting women's participation.
Centre LSD's Role & Key Activities
Project Planning & Strategy
Centre LSD developed a detailed implementation work plan and Gantt chart, mapping out activity timelines and resource needs.
Stakeholder Mapping
Centre LSD facilitated a joint mapping session with coalition partners to:
- Identify and engage influential male allies
- Forge partnerships with at least two women’s rights organizations or coalitions
Advocacy Visits
Led and coordinated 6 advocacy visits to engage key decision-makers, male influencers, women’s rights NGOs, and political leaders. These visits helped secure buy-in for gender-inclusive reforms.
Handbook Development
Centre LSD adapted NDI’s Masculinities, Politics, and Power handbook for the Nigerian context. A literature review was also produced, analyzing how male gender norms impact political inequality.
Facilitator Selection
Via an open EOI process, Centre LSD selected and trained 4 expert facilitators to lead masculinity workshops across the SAGE coalition.
Masculinity Workshops
Centre LSD delivered 4 transformative workshops using the customized handbook:
- NDI Nigeria Staff Workshop
- Mixed-Sex Workshop
- Women-Only Workshop
- Men-Only Workshop
Each session included both in-person and virtual participants, covering key topics such as:
- Active listening and allyship
- Gender norms and power
- Masculinity and political gatekeeping
Coaching & Mentorship
Centre LSD led 6 coaching sessions (2 per partner) to guide SAGE coalition members in:
- Using the masculinity handbook effectively
- Applying gender-transformative strategies in their advocacy work
Social Media Campaign
Launched a digital campaign across Facebook, X, Instagram, and other platforms to:
- Amplify messages on male allyship
- Promote women's inclusion in governance
- Showcase success stories and project milestones
COVID-19 Adaptation Strategy
To ensure continuity during the pandemic:
- Centre LSD organized hybrid meetings (in-person + virtual)
- Participants aged 50+ attended virtually to reduce health risks
- Physical meetings strictly followed public health protocols (face masks, sanitizers, temperature checks, social distancing)
Outcomes
- Heightened male engagement in the gender equality discourse
- Increased organizational capacity across coalition partners on gender-transformative programming
- Practical tools and resources (e.g., masculinity handbook) adopted across multiple NGOs
- New and diverse alliances formed between male stakeholders and women’s rights groups
- Greater public awareness through sustained digital outreach
Conclusion
Centre LSD’s leadership under the SAGE project demonstrated that men are not just gatekeepers, they can be powerful allies in dismantling gendered barriers to political inclusion. By integrating masculinity studies into political advocacy, the project unlocked new pathways for promoting gender equity in Nigerian governance.
The SAGE experience proves that if we want to expand space for women in politics, we must also transform the spaces that men dominate.
