CREATING MOMENTUM FOR SUSTAINED IMPACTS

Interacting with web 2.0 is quite an interesting activity whose impacts are immeasurable and beyond imagination. Finding the world pulse online community and connecting with my sisters across the globe has helped to build solid blocks of support for my work on the ground resulting in positive outcomes for women in my country, Nigeria. What actually excites me the most about web 2.0 is its awesomeness in connecting and harnessing the synergies of our voices to mobilize our caring power to create change for women on the ground.

In 2011, I connected Olutosin on the world pulse, instantly we started working together to create gender awareness. We formed a network- Lagos State Gender Advocacy Team (LASGAT)- to advocate for a gender sensitive Lagos state. With this network we now work with Lagos State House of Assembly to ensure the passage of the Gender Equality Law in Lagos state. With Olutosin ‘s connection through the world pulse members of our network are now receiving training on gender and transformation in cape town and India, building critical capacity to sustain the momentum for our work.

The advocacy for the enthronement of women’s right through elimination of all forms of discrimination in all spheres of societal life remains a critical concern of women’s empowerment movement but with Web 2.0‘s social networking tools the voices of women are projected and their concerns given visibility in key policy spaces. Through Web 2.0 women have ceased important policy moments to get their concerns delivered to policy makers. During the process leading to the Rio+20 conferences the world pulse was able to harness and deliver the voices and concerns of women worldwide on the future they want to policy makers. Even the voices of “Ibasa” women from one of the remote areas of Lagos were heard in Rio. The ability of web 2.0 to unify women’s voices on critical issues can in most tremendous way strengthen the bond of sisterhood, support and solidarity needed to make our voices count where it matters.

Not the least is the lift that web 2.0 can give to women’s empowerment movement in raising awareness about the centrality of women’s leadership to address development challenges of the 21st century. The world is in dire need of women’s leadership therefore leveraging on the power of web 2.0 to increase women’s access to decision making positions will ensure the utilization of their leadership for the benefit of mankind.

Bringing the power of web 2.0 to drive women’s empowerment has afforded me the opportunity to mobilize resources, information and support needed to transform the lives of women on the ground. Early this year, I was accepted as one of the vital voices lead fellow. Thanks to Peace and Collaborative Development Network enabled by web 2.0 that provided the information about the fellowship. Thus a new vista of resources and opportunities opened for continued expansion and sustenance of the impacts that I am making in the lives of women.