The Chief Executive Officer,CEO of The Nigerian Women Trust Fund ,Ayisha Osori is now an Eisenhower Fellow. She spent seven weeks in the United States as the 35th Eisenhower Fellow from Nigeria. Her program was focused on enhancing the political participation of women and managing gender based violence. Ms Osori was sponsored by the prestigious 60-year old Eisenhower Fellowship Inc., chaired by General Collin Powell (Rtd.) and she is now one of 2011 Fellows from 108 Countries.
According to a statement, the CEO met with over 40 organisations during the fellowship, including the Women’s Campaign Fund, the National Endowment for Democracy, EMILY’s List, the Federal Electoral Commission, Vital Voices, Rock the Vote, the Stanford’s Clayman Institute for Gender Research, the US Department of Justice, Women Winning, the National Democratic Institute as well as members of the Board of the Trustees of Eisenhower Fellowship such as former Governor of New Jersey, Christine Todd Whitman.
The program has provided the Fund with a wide international network and the opportunity to collaborate and work in partnership with institutions focused on enhancing the political participation of women and managing gender based violence. Out of many insights two particularly standout; one is that ‘women need to be asked’ (to run) – a strategy the Fund will adopt in preparing for the 2015 general elections and the second is the Victims of Crimes Act which secures steady funding for programs to deal with victims of crimes including rape, domestic violence and sexual abuse all of which are in dire need of attention in Nigeria. The Fund intends to collaborate with the National Human Rights Commission and other civil society organisations focused on this.
The experience brings home the fact that honest dialogue and collaboration can make the world more prosperous, just and peaceful for everyone.
