Empowering Women for Excellence Initiative (EWEI) is a Nigerian non-governmental organisation founded in June 2008 and registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission of Nigeria. EWEI was established in response to persistent inequalities affecting girls and women, particularly in access to education, safety, economic opportunities, and participation in decision-making.
EWEI as an organisation has grown from a small, community-focused initiative into a nationally recognised civil society organisation implementing multi-sectoral interventions across education, gender equality, peacebuilding, learning, and community development. EWEI’s work is rooted in grassroots realities while engaging with institutions and policy spaces to drive sustainable change.
Our Purpose
EWEI exists to ensure that girls and women are not left behind in development processes. We work to strengthen knowledge, skills, agency and voice, recognising that empowerment is both an individual and systemic process.
Our approach integrates capacity building, advocacy, service delivery, learning and partnerships, enabling communities to address immediate needs while challenging structural barriers that limit girls’ and women’s full participation in society.
Vision, Mission and Values
Vision
To achieve empowerment through enlightenment.
Mission
To provide multi-sectoral interventions for the development and empowerment of girls and women.
Our Values
- Excellence in service beyond business as usual
- Generosity in sharing knowledge, learning and resources
- Investing in and grooming leaders of change and impact
What We Do
According to the 2021 Annual Report, EWEI’s programmes are designed to respond to the interconnected challenges facing girls and women, particularly in northern Nigeria. Our work spans:
- Girls’ education and digital inclusion, including subsidies, supplementary learning and access to virtual education;
- Gender-based violence prevention and response, with survivor-centred safe spaces, referrals and awareness raising;
- Economic empowerment, supporting women with skills, partnerships and pathways to livelihoods;
- Civic education and participatory governance, strengthening women’s engagement in community and policy processes;
- Peacebuilding and conflict transformation, promoting dialogue, social cohesion and inclusive leadership;
- Learning and mentoring, supporting individuals and institutions to build capacity and sustain impact.
Our Reach and Impact
As at 2025, EWEI had reached over eight million girls, women, men, and young people through our programmes. Beyond numbers, EWEI measures impact through improved access to education, strengthened awareness of rights, enhanced community leadership, and better support systems for survivors of violence.
EWEI works in collaboration with government ministries, civil society organisations, international partners and the private sector, ensuring programmes are locally relevant, inclusive and aligned with broader development and peacebuilding efforts.
Safiya brings over two decades of experience in sustainable development, peacebuilding, learning and capacity development. Her leadership has shaped EWEI’s emphasis on evidence-based programming, learning, partnership and ethical practice. Alongside her role at EWEI, she is the Convener of the Kabilun Africa Think Tank (KATT) and has contributed to national, regional and global conversations on gender equality, peace and development.