Rise Up Together Launches Initiatives To Empower 25 Visionary Local CSO Leaders 

Rise Up Together Launches Nigeria Leadership and Advocacy Accelerator to Advance Gender Equity and Justice.

As part of efforts to advance gender equity and justice in Nigeria. a global social sector leader, Rise Up Together  is launching a transformative initiative supported by Cummins Inc., a multinational power solutions leader committed to equity and social impact.

Rise Up Together’s 2025 Leadership and Advocacy Accelerator in  Nigeria will empower 25 visionary local civil society leaders from the Federal Capital Territory, Rivers, Anambra, Kaduna, and Nasarawa States to drive lasting change for women, girls, and gender-nonconforming people.

In a statement by the  Rise Up Together Nigeria Country Director, Theresa Effa says  from November 16-22, 2025, these emerging changemakers will participate in Rise Up Together’s intensive Accelerator, a globally recognized immersive program that equips leaders with the strategies and resources to strengthen health, education, and economic opportunity through improved laws, policies, and programs.

“Nigeria is blessed with extraordinary civil society leaders who are driving solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing women and girls,”  Theresa Effa said.

“Rise Up Together invests in their vision and leadership , amplifying their voices and equipping them to create systemic change that endures, lifting whole communities and benefiting everyone.”

According to her, ”Participants will gain training in leadership, advocacy, policy change, and movement building.”

The country Director noted that ”Following the Accelerator, leaders will have the opportunity to apply for competitive grant funding to launch bold, locally led advocacy projects addressing economic inclusion, education, health care access, and women’s rights.”

She said Rise Up Together has already seen powerful impact from its alumni in Nigeria. Nsini Udonta, who joined Rise Up Together in 2018, who leveraged her training and funding to expand her work with Project Alert on Violence Against Women.

”The project is protecting 4.5 million women and girls from gender-based violence through fast-tracked
domestic violence cases in Lagos.”

“I became a Rise Up Leader because I want to do more – I want to see changes in policies and practices to actually improve women’s rights,” Nsini shared.

Nsini’s success demonstrates the ripple effect of Rise Up Together’s approach, turning skilled, passionate leaders into catalysts for lasting social and policy change across the country.”

Also the Executive Director of Center for Women Youth and Community Action, Dr. Nawani Aboki, said” The energy creativity, and dedication I’ve seen from Nigerian leaders is truly inspiring, they are poised to lead change that will be felt for generations,”

The program facilitators of Rise Up Together’ 2025 Nigeria Accelerator, alongside Dr. Toyin Akpan, Director of Auricle Services said during the accelerator,  alongside the leaders they will work to strengthen their advocacy skills and leadership capacity so they can influence policy, expand access to education and health care, and create economic opportunities that truly uplift the local communities.”

Since 2009, Rise Up Together has built a global network of over 800 leaders across Africa, Latin America, South Asia, and the United States.

Together, these leaders have successfully advocated for more than 218 new and improved laws and policies, positively impacting over 172 million people worldwide.