ISA WALI Empowerment Initiative

19/06/2026

For many women, the challenge isn't just finding an income. It's making that income sustainable.

It's in finding ways to save consistently while navigating the demands of everyday life.

A single unexpected expense can delay or even derail life goals, keeping opportunities just out of reach.

If you were in Maryam's shoes, what would you do to move one step closer to your goal?

what you will do in the comments.

17/06/2026

Some visits carry a special significance.

We were delighted to welcome our Founder, Mrs. Maryam Uwais OON, to the Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative office recently.

As she walked through the premises, she reflected on how familiar it all felt. The building that now houses our work was once her family home, a place where she spent much of her childhood. Looking around, she remarked that it felt as though she had been there only yesterday.

It was a reminder that places can hold both memories and purpose.

Today, the same space serves as a hub for empowerment, learning, and opportunity, continuing a legacy inspired by Imam Isa Wali's vision and values. Seeing that connection between past and present was a meaningful moment for our team.

We are grateful for the visit, the reflections shared, and the opportunity to continue building on a foundation laid by those who believed deeply in the power of education, service, and community.

Empowerment

16/06/2026

“Modesty became both expression and enterprise.” ✨

Faith & Enterprise Spotlight: Sa’adatu Abdullahi, Founder of Sutura Clothing

Most ideas never fail in the marketplace. They fail in the mind; halted by doubts before they are ever given room to grow.

For Sa’adatu Abdullahi, the vision for Sutura Clothing began long before the business did. From watching her elder brother sew as a child to designing her own outfits at university, she developed a deep appreciation for tailoring, but also noticed a major gap. Modest fashion was available, but rarely in ways that felt stylish, intentional, or reflective of the culture.

The real hurdle wasn't sourcing fabrics or learning the craft; it was taking the first step into the unknown. Like many aspiring entrepreneurs, she was haunted by market doubts: Will anyone actually buy this? Is it sustainable?

She didn’t wait for the answers. She started anyway.

Over time, uncertainty gave way to experience, and her personal interest evolved into a thriving, family-driven enterprise serving women in Kano and beyond.

Sa’adatu’s journey is a beautiful reminder that opportunities aren't just discovered — they are created the moment we choose to act before every doubt is resolved. Meaningful livelihoods are built one step, one lesson, and one act of courage at a time.

📖 Adapted from Faith & Enterprise, a collection of stories highlighting women transforming vision into opportunity.

Share with us,👇 What is one idea you have been waiting to start?

15/06/2026

Investing in women is smart economics, and investing in girls, catching them upstream is even smarter economics.” — Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

There is a kind of freedom that does not arrive loudly. It is built quietly through the ability to make decisions, navigate pressure, and shape one's path with greater stability.

In many communities, women and girls are at the centre of this daily negotiation: working through immediate financial pressures, contributing to household stability, and finding ways to stretch what is available into something that lasts.

At IWEI, we see how important it is to strengthen that foundation. Not through dependency, but through systems that allow women and communities to build, contribute, and grow together over time.

This week, we are sharing one of the ways collective economic effort is being strengthened in practice within our communities.

Stay with us.

13/06/2026

"Start at the point, go up, giraffe, come down, robot arm, and a flick."

One of the many prompts used during our recent phonics training, this sequence helps learners remember how specific letters are formed through movement and imagery.

Over three days, our community-based mentors participated in a phonics training led by Jolly Abbas, focused on strengthening foundational literacy skills for learners in the ROOTS project.

The sessions explored practical approaches including sound recognition, storytelling, actions, blending, letter formation, and tracing activities designed to make phonics instruction more engaging and accessible.

As preparations continue for the launch of the ROOTS program across our focus communities, this training helps ensure mentors are equipped to support girls and young women as they transition back into formal education.

The ROOTS project is supported by Malala Fund and implemented by Isa Wali Empowerment Initiative.

12/06/2026

Many girls and young women and drop out of school early due to life circumstances, but their desire to learn and thrive never fades. Standard classrooms aren't always built for them to restart.

What would you do to help a young woman in your community find a second chance at education and financial independence?

what you'll do in the comments!

10/06/2026

Lasting change requires more than a single investment.

Education opens doors, but opportunity is needed to walk through them. Economic empowerment creates independence, but institutional accountability and access to justice ensure that independence is protected.

This is why our work is built around three interconnected thematic areas: Quality Education, Livelihood Support, and Protection & Justice. Each area strengthens the other. Together, they help women and girls gain foundational knowledge, build sustainable financial capabilities, and confidently claim the rights that belong to them.

When women and girls are equipped to learn, earn, and claim their rights, empowerment becomes more than a milestone, it becomes sustainable.

08/06/2026

06/06/2026

What happens when the systems meant to protect people become the very tools used to violate their rights?

In Book 2 of the , Rakiya finds herself navigating a difficult situation when her friend and coursemate, Naja, seeks justice after experiencing harassment from a lecturer. As pressure mounts and law enforcement officers become involved, Rakiya is forced to draw on her knowledge of the Kano State Administration of Criminal Justice Law (ACJL) 2019 to challenge actions that undermine their rights.

Through Rakiya and Naja's story, the book explores key protections contained in the ACJL, including the right to know the reason for an arrest, protection from unlawful detention, and the prohibition of arresting one person in place of another.
Will knowledge of the law be enough to help them navigate the situation?

Read Rakiya 2 on our website and discover how understanding the law can make a difference when rights are at stake.

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05/06/2026

From classrooms to community safe spaces, our Executive Director, Mrs. Amina Hanga, spent time with the girls at the heart of our work ✨️

Alongside the IWEI team, she engaged directly with scholars and mentees across our programmes, reflecting on their progress and lived experiences.

The visit began at one of our partner schools, where scholars supported by the Jean Herskovits Foundation shared their academic journeys and growth. Mrs. Hanga also met with school leadership to discuss continued support and development.

From there, she moved to one of our community safe spaces, joining a live learning session and sitting with the girls as they engaged in class. She later offered encouragement to both learners and the mentors guiding them.

Across both spaces, the focus remained the same. Ensuring every girl has consistent, supportive pathways to learn, grow, and thrive.

These on the ground engagements continue to shape how we strengthen our programmes and respond to the needs of the girls we serve.