FOMWAN Adopts Action Plan, Digital Academy to Empower Muslim Women, Girls
The Federation of Muslim Women’s Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN) has resolved to develop a time-bound action plan and establish a Digital Academy as part of measures to strengthen the empowerment and development of Muslim women and girls across the country.
The resolutions were contained in a communiqué issued at the end of the 41st FOMWAN National Conference held in Umuahia, Abia State, from August 21 to 23, 2026.
The conference, themed “Faith, Resilience and Responsibility: Muslim Women Responding to Challenges,” brought together about 600 delegates from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, as well as Islamic scholars, government representatives, traditional and religious leaders, development partners, security agencies and other stakeholders.
FOMWAN said the action plan would translate the resolutions of the conference into practical programmes with clear responsibilities, timelines and measurable outcomes.
It also resolved to establish a National Women and Girls Mentorship Programme to connect experienced Muslim women with younger women and girls for character formation, leadership development, career guidance, entrepreneurship and life skills.
According to the communiqué, the proposed Digital Academy would provide training in digital literacy, Islamic education, vocational skills, civic education and entrepreneurship, while also improving women’s access to relevant information.
The conference further resolved to strengthens FOMWAN’s programmes in education, healthcare, humanitarian response, child protection and economic empowerment, with particular attention to vulnerable women, girls, widows, women with disabilities and underserved communities.
It called for intensified advocacy and community action against violence, exploitation, abuse and discrimination against women and girls, including sexual and gender-based violence.
The Association also resolved to promote authentic Islamic teachings on the dignity, rights and responsibilities of women, while working with Islamic scholars, community leaders and families to distinguish Islamic teachings from harmful cultural practices.
FOMWAN said it would strengthen its structures and programmes in the South-East, South-South and other minority Muslim communities to address their specific religious, educational, social and economic challenges.
The conference further called for greater participation of Muslim women in peacebuilding, interfaith dialogue, conflict prevention, mediation, civic engagement and community development.
It also approved a national assessment of the situation of Muslim women and girls, covering education, health, livelihoods, security and social protection, to provide evidence for advocacy and programme development.
It pledged to strengthen partnerships with governments, Islamic and traditional institutions, development partners, civil society organisations and the private sector to mobilise resources and improve programme delivery.
It directed State Amirahs and relevant committees to domesticate the resolutions into state-level programmes and report progress to the National Secretariat.
The conference also resolved to establish an effective monitoring and accountability mechanism to track the implementation of the resolutions and report progress at subsequent national conferences.
Earlier, participants expressed concern over the continuing impact of insecurity, displacement, abduction, violence, poverty and humanitarian crises, noting that women and children were disproportionately affected.
The conference identified persistent gaps in girls’ education, particularly in poor, displaced and underserved communities, as well as women’s limited access to finance, markets, productive assets, entrepreneurship opportunities, digital skills and sustainable livelihoods.
It also highlighted inadequate access to quality healthcare, particularly maternal, child and reproductive health services in rural and underserved communities.
Other concerns included religious and gender discrimination, the widening digital and civic divide, and the challenges faced by Muslim women in minority communities, particularly in the South-East and South-South.
FOMWAN also raised concern over harmful cultural practices wrongly attributed to Islam, especially practices that restrict women’s education, dignity, economic participation and legitimate rights.
The federation noted that weakening family structures, inadequate parenting support, marital conflicts and insufficient counselling were increasingly affecting children, young people and community stability.
It reaffirmed that faith should provide the moral compass, resilience the strength to overcome adversity, and responsibility the commitment to translate values into positive action.
The conference further reaffirmed FOMWAN’s commitment to building a generation of faithful, educated, economically empowered, digitally capable, compassionate and responsible Muslim women capable of contributing meaningfully to their families, communities and national development.
It stressed that the advancement of Muslim women must go hand in hand with strengthening families, protecting children, promoting peace and social cohesion, and advancing national development.
The federation expressed appreciation to the Abia State Government and people for their hospitality and support, as well as to First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, represented at the conference by the wife of the Vice-President, Hajiya Nana Kashim Shettima, and other stakeholders who contributed to the success of the conference.
The communiqué was signed by FOMWAN National Amirah, Dr Sumaye Fadimatu Hamza; National Secretary, Dr Zainab Talatu Ahmed; and National Publicity Relations Officer, Hajiya Kulu Kande Ibrahim.
The federation called on Muslim women, governments, religious leaders, families, communities and development partners to work collectively towards building resilient women, stronger families, peaceful communities and a resilient Nigeria.
