In a stirring demonstration of collective resolve and brilliance, Nigeria witnessed three transformative days in Lagos that could redefine the trajectory of democratic participation across West Africa. From June 23 to June 25, 2025, a convergence of young women political aspirants and civic tech innovators unfolded through two major events: the “Young Women in Politics Organising Lab” and the “Digital Democracy Exhibition.” What began as a gathering of dreamers quickly morphed into a vibrant movement, rooted in leadership, inclusion, and innovation, and driven by a shared belief that democracy must serve everyone, especially the women and youth too often left out of the process.
Organised by Yiaga Africa in partnership with WILAN Global, and in collaboration with the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through GIZ, the Young Women in Politics Organising Lab opened on June 23 in Lagos with a clear purpose: to train, equip, and empower young women to step confidently into Nigeria’s political arena. Twenty carefully selected participants, including young female candidates, campaign managers, and political party leaders, took part in this intensive two-day programme designed to not only strengthen their political capacities but to ignite a deeper understanding of public leadership, strategy, and civic responsibility. From campaign planning to public service delivery, media engagement to grassroots mobilisation, the sessions were tailored to tackle the real-world challenges women face when they dare to lead in political spaces.
This was not just another training; it was an awakening. “It mirrors exactly how politics works. It’s a funnel. The more women who participate, the greater the chances that more women will be at the table when decisions are made,” said WILAN Executive Director Abosede George-Ogan during the opening session. Her words, impassioned and unfiltered, captured the essence of what this Lab was building: not just skills, but a revolution of mindset. Yiaga Africa’s Programme Coordinator, Ibrahim Faruk, echoed this vision, noting the urgency of revitalising Nigeria’s democratic space, especially when voter turnout in previous Lagos council polls had plummeted below 10 percent. His charge to the participants was simple but powerful: “If you’re at a political organising lab, then you are clearly invested in the political process, just not in a partisan way.”
Throughout the two-day Lab, participants engaged in hands-on drills, including a campaign simulation exercise that tested their strategic thinking and sharpened their communication under pressure. The Lab created a space where clarity met courage, where stories of past political defeats turned into strategies for future wins, and where women no longer saw each other as competitors, but as co-builders of a shared democratic future. As one participant, Aminat Olamilekan, put it, “Out of hundreds who applied, only 20 were selected. If each of us trains another 20, we’ll reach 400 women, and more.” That spirit of scaling impact, of building a political sisterhood rooted in empowerment and mentorship, set the tone for what would become the Lab’s lasting legacy: a community of action-oriented women determined to not only participate in governance but to transform it from within.
But the story did not end there. On June 25, the energy shifted from political training grounds to a digital frontier at the Digital Democracy Exhibition, also hosted in Lagos by Yiaga Africa, WILAN Global, and Civic Hive. The Exhibition was designed as a bold platform to highlight civic technology tools and innovations addressing disinformation, digital safety, and inclusive governance, especially as it relates to women’s representation in politics. This initiative, also supported by BMZ through GIZ, brought together a vibrant mix of civic tech innovators, civil society actors, media professionals, and policymakers, all united in one mission: to reimagine how digital transformation can strengthen democracy.
Seven innovators took centre stage, presenting tools that were as practical as they were visionary. Among them was Truly Verify Africa’s “Truth Tech Fellowship,” a digital literacy initiative teaching youth how to detect and counter disinformation. Tech4Her, a four-month mentorship programme, showcased its work in bridging the gender gap in technology by equipping young women in Lagos with essential digital and leadership skills. Others, like PromiseTrackerNG, developed by AdvoKC Foundation, offered real-time tracking of campaign promises, empowering citizens to hold public officials accountable. There was also The 51% AI Bot, introduced by Israel Olatunji Tijani, which uses artificial intelligence to educate users on women’s rights instruments, available in local African languages. These tools, along with platforms like FactsMatterNg, PoliZ NG, and the Digital Lab, formed a remarkable digital ecosystem poised to counteract the harmful narratives and disinformation that continue to sideline women and dampen civic engagement.
The exhibition wasn’t just a showcase, it was a clarion call for collaboration across sectors. “You can’t separate technology from governance,” said Luke Ikyaator of Tech4Her. “It’s key to awareness creation and participation.” Ibrahim Farouk further emphasized the need for synergy between government, civil society, and digital innovators to promote inclusive governance, urging institutional support for civic tech solutions that empower citizens, especially women, to play active roles in decision-making processes.
Both the Lab and the Exhibition underscored the growing recognition that democracy is not simply about casting votes, it is about building systems where citizens, particularly young women, have the knowledge, tools, and networks to lead, to challenge, and to change. It is about combating digital threats not with fear, but with innovation and collective resolve. And most of all, it is about turning moments like these into movements that endure long after the events have ended.
As the curtain fell on these three days, one thing was certain: a new democratic narrative is being written in Nigeria. One where young women rise from being passive participants to powerful political actors. One where technology doesn’t divide but unites people in the pursuit of truth, accountability, and justice. One where civic imagination is not limited by access or gender but expanded by purpose and partnership. And as Yiaga Africa and its partners prepare to take these initiatives to Ghana in the coming months, the vision is clear: get women to the front row of political discussion and do so by whatever technology available.
