About Us

Women Health Empowerment and Emancipation Initiative (WHEEI) is committed to protecting the rights, dignity, and wellbeing of women and girls in Northern Nigeria. Our mission is to impact lives, taking people from being neglected to nurtured. We work to raise awareness and shift negative perceptions about the rights of underserved women, adolescent girls, youth, and children. Through storytelling, media engagement, and policy advocacy, we amplify their experiences and work toward real, lasting change. WHEEI provides access to underserved women with comprehensive healthcare services, including HIV/AIDS support, sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR), Malaria/TB prevention and care, Mental health support services and care for survivors of gender-based violence (GBV). We empower communities through capacity-building, demand generation, and grassroots outreach. We believe true empowerment begins with financial stability and inclusive opportunities. That’s why our economic empowerment programs go beyond agriculture to include diverse skill-building in areas such as catering, tailoring, cosmetics, digital skills, food processing, and packaging. Through hands-on training and cooperative savings schemes, we help underserved women and youth build sustainable livelihoods and access new income streams. This empowerment fosters resilience, independence, and a stronger voice—helping to curb gender-based violence (GBV) by giving women greater agency and security. As they grow in confidence and capacity, they not only support themselves but also become active contributors to their communities, offering valuable services and support that drive collective progress. Through our partnership with relevant stakeholders, we advocate for the domestication of protective laws and inclusive policies that support equity and justice. Together, we are building a society rooted in acceptance, love, and opportunity for all.

Our Mission

To improve the socio-economic status of adolescent girls, women, youth and children through capacity strengthening, provision of qualitative education, health and human services, micro-enterprise scheme and advocacy.

Our Vision

Envisions a world where women are totally empowered to be role models in making positive impact in the society.

Core Values

Empowerment
Equity
Respect
Collaboration
Accountability
Team Work
Commitment
Integrity
Respect for Values
Communication
Transparency
Dignity

Our Work

Our Community Engagement programs aims to work with key stakeholders in Nigeria to address the impact of stigma and discrimination faced by women, girls, and other vulnerable individuals and communities. We recognize that vulnerable women and girls face significant challenges, with 1 in 5 experiencing discrimination or abuse in their communities or at local service points, and 1 in 7 facing workplace discrimination when seeking employment. To address these issues, we take a collaborative approach, by working with key stakeholders, community-based service providers, and social institutions to drive social change. Through surveys, small group discussions, and community dialogue activities, we gather insights, raise awareness, and foster a culture of inclusion. Our goal is to empower communities to drive social change and advocate for the rights and livelihoods of vulnerable populations. We believe that by working together, we can create a society that values humanity, fairness, and opportunity for all.

At WHEEI, we believe that empowering underserved women and adolescent girls is crucial to creating a society where they can live free from violence and exploitation. Our Capacity Building programs are designed to equip these individuals with the knowledge, skills, and confidence to challenge Gender-Based Violence (GBV) and become leaders in their communities.

Our Leadership and Advocacy program focuses on empowering women and girls to speak up, lead, and influence change in their communities. Through this program, participants learn essential leadership skills, including public speaking, negotiation, and conflict resolution. They are also encouraged to identify and challenge societal norms and stereotypes that perpetuate GBV. Through building their confidence and leadership capacity, we enable them to become agents of change in their communities.

Our Rights Awareness program educates participants about their rights and how to seek justice and protection. We provide information on national and international laws and policies that protect women's rights, as well as the importance of access to justice and support services. We empower them to demand accountability and advocate for their own rights and those of others.

Our Economic Empowerment program provides training in income-generating skills to promote financial independence among women and girls. We recognize that economic dependence can be a significant barrier to curb GBV, and that financial independence can be a powerful tool for empowerment. Through this program, participants learn skills such as entrepreneurship, budgeting, and financial management, enabling them to start and manage their own businesses.

Our Mental Health and Wellbeing program supports emotional resilience through trauma-informed care and counseling. We recognize that GBV can have a profound impact on mental health, and that women and girls who have experienced trauma require specialized support. Through this program, participants receive counseling and support to help them cope with their experiences and build emotional resilience.

Our Sexual and Reproductive Health Education program shares accurate information on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR) to help participants make informed decisions about their health and wellbeing. We provide information on topics such as family planning, maternal health, and GBV prevention, as well as the importance of consent and healthy relationships. we empower them to take control of their health and wellbeing.

We recognize the critical role that media and legal professionals play in shaping narratives and advocating for the rights of underserved women and adolescent girls in Nigeria. Our Media and Legal Support program is designed to equip journalists and lawyers with the knowledge, skills, and support needed to tell more responsible and human-centered stories, and to provide effective legal representation and support. The media and legal support program aims to challenge and change how narratives about underserved women, especially adolescent girls, are reported in the media and legal settings in Nigeria. Through promoting more responsible and human-centered storytelling, we can help to shift public perceptions and attitudes towards these women and girls, and ensure that their dignity and rights are respected. Our Media and Legal Support program is an important step towards achieving this goal, and we are committed to working with partners and stakeholders to ensure that our efforts have a lasting impact.

Objectives and Outcomes
  • We aim to increase the number of media outlets that prioritize stories and discussions about underserved women and girls, and to ensure that these stories are told in a way that is respectful and accurate.
  • To promote context and language appropriate content: We work with media houses to ensure that their content is sensitive to the needs and experiences of underserved women and girls, and that it promotes a culture of dignity and respect.
  • To empower lawyers to defend underserved women's rights: We provide training and support to lawyers who are committed to defending the rights of underserved women and adolescent girls, and we aim to increase the number of lawyers who are equipped to provide effective legal representation and support.

As part of our program, we are building a database of lawyers who can provide legal assistance to underserved women and girls, as well as to organizations that support them. This database will provide a critical resource for those who need legal support, and will help to ensure that they have access to the justice and protection they deserve.

WHEEI carries out advocacy visits to healthcare facilities and stakeholders, this is to further promote inclusive, non-discriminatory services. Our goal is to build partnerships that create a supportive policy environment, ensuring underserved women, girls, and gender-diverse individuals have access to quality care and treatment free from stigma and judgment. We advocate for equality in healthcare, challenging discriminatory practices and promoting respectful services. Through these efforts, we aim to leave no one behind due to their identity or background. By working together with healthcare providers and policymakers, we strive to create a fair and equitable healthcare system that serves the needs of all individuals. Our advocacy work is driven by a vision of a future where everyone has access to quality healthcare, regardless of who they are or where they come from. We believe that together, we can make this vision a reality.

At WHEEI, documentation and monitoring are essential components of our work. We believe that by tracking human rights violations and observing media coverage, we can gain valuable insights into the challenges faced by underserved women and girls. This information helps us design programs and shape advocacy efforts that are evidence-based and responsive to community needs. Through documentation, we give voice to the experiences of those who are often overlooked or marginalized. By amplifying their stories, we raise awareness about the issues they face and hold systems accountable for their actions. This approach enables us to create lasting change and promote equality and justice. Our documentation and monitoring efforts also inform our program design and advocacy work. By analyzing media coverage and tracking human rights violations, we can identify trends, patterns, and gaps in services. This information helps us develop targeted interventions and advocate for policy changes that address the root causes of inequality and injustice.