The STAGE for Women 2019 Project is one of the strategies for gender equality in Nigeria initiated by the Women Entrepreneurs Association of Nigeria (WEAN) in collaboration with the Women’s Optimum Development foundation (WODEF) and partnering Organisations. Promoting gender equality in leadership roles between men and women is now globally accepted as a development strategy for reducing poverty l
evels among women and men, improving health and living standards, and enhancing efficiency in resource allocation and of public investments. Gender equality is a matter of human rights and a condition for social justice. It is a necessary and fundamental prerequisite for equality in political decision-making, sustainable development, and peace. In this context, gender equality refers to equality of rights and opportunities between women and men in political participation and leadership processes, enabling women and men to enjoy equal rights and opportunities in a way that the behaviour, aspirations, potentials, wishes, contributions and needs of women and men are equally valued and favoured. In other words gender equality means an equal visibility, empowerment, responsibility and participation of both women and men in political and leadership roles.
