Tostan first started training partners in Nigeria in 2015. This expanded in 2020 with Tostan pursuing a wider partnership strategy with a range of international, government, religious leaders networks and Civil Society Organization (CSO) networks/stakeholders to contribute on their efforts around ending violence against women and girls and increasing gender equality in Nigeria. During the same time (2020 – 2021), Tostan also initiated a planning grant to support the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP) by strengthening institutional capacity to increase impact on women economic empowerment activities.
In May 2022, Tostan is piloting a series of five-day step-down seminars across seven states in Nigeria with a group of representatives of Nigerian CSO platforms and religious leader networks working to end violence against women. During these sessions, Tostan staff representatives from Senegal were present and supported the Tostan trained Nigerian Facilitators in delivering the step down sessions at different venues in Abuja and Kano.
Tostan CEO Elena Bonometti was also present in Abuja in order to meet with local partners. She was honored to meet the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Affairs in Nigeria, Eng. Olufunsho Adebiyi to deepen the conversation and explore new ways of partnering with the Government of Nigeria.
