CLP has trained over 946 grassroots women leaders, significantly increasing women’s representation in political party structures by more than 300% in a couple of states. This initiative ensures women’s participation in governance, inclusive budgeting, and leadership roles
Microcredit Schemes: CLP provided ₦7.6 million to over 350 rural women in the Niger Delta, strengthening their economic well-being and independence.
Digital Inclusion Initiatives: Grassroots entrepreneurs, including women tailors and hairdressers, were trained to leverage digital tools for business growth, bridging the digital divide for informal sector workers.
Health Education: Reached over 137,592 grassroots citizens, including many women, with essential information on maternal and child health, family planning, and HIV/AIDS prevention
Addressing Gender-Based Violence: Integrated discussions on domestic violence and reproductive health into family education programs, promoting peaceful and equitable households
Organised over 217 Town Hall meetings focusing on participatory governance and budgeting. These meetings empowered women to engage in local governance discussions and decision-making processes actively.
CLP’s programs have directly empowered 155,003 individuals, including women, through capacity-building initiatives in areas such as advocacy, civic engagement, and public accountability. These programs have enabled women to take on leadership roles and advocate for community interests.
Collaborated with local government bodies and community groups to support policy reforms that align with community priorities, such as participatory budgeting and public spending accountability
Launched digital literacy programs aimed at equipping women with the skills to navigate the digital landscape, enhancing their economic opportunities and access to vital information.
Background: Ilejemeje Local Government Area Women were traditionally excluded from governance. CLP organised training workshops on leadership, budget monitoring, and civic engagement. Town hall meetings were held to educate women on participatory governance.
Outcome: Women leaders gained confidence and actively engaged in community decision-making, leading to a more inclusive and accountable governance system
Background: The local government faced significant gender disparities in leadership and decision-making. CLP provided leadership, decision-making, and reproductive health training between 2008 and 2013.
Outcome: The initiative increased women’s representation in community decision-making processes, promoting more significant gender equity and empowering women to advocate for their communities needs
Background: The community lacked a structured approach to include citizen input in local government budgets. CLP trained community members on asset mapping, needs surveys, and advocacy, leading to structured town hall meetings.
Outcome: The community successfully developed a three-year Community Development Plan, integrating their priorities into local government budgets and guiding project implementation
Background: Community members in Boluwaduro Local Government were disconnected from governance processes. CLP trained residents on participatory governance, project monitoring, and civic rights.
Outcome: The community actively monitored local infrastructure projects, ensuring quality work and promoting accountability in local governance
ReclaimNaija Initiative: This citizen-driven platform has enabled women to report electoral malpractice and advocate for transparent elections. Through this initiative, women have played a significant role in monitoring electoral processes and promoting democratic integrity.
The Community Life Project (CLP) has been a saviour in our Local Government Area. The periodic Town Hall meetings have created awareness among community members and leaders. Community members now voice their needs and understand the importance of participating in governance. The “I don’t care” attitude has dramatically decreased. Through the intervention of this program, local government officials now make efforts to meet the needs of the people by providing water, grading roads, building market stalls, repairing culverts, and more. This program has created an open door for interaction between the Local Government and community leaders.
The program has increased my awareness of good governance and the need for active participation. It is my civic responsibility to contribute my quota and represent my local community effectively. I have been able to boldly and respectfully engage Local Government officials on matters related to the development of my immediate community. This program has inspired me to believe that, together, we can achieve great things.
This program has been transformative for me because I used to have a nonchalant attitude toward happenings in my community. Ever since I started attending the series of training sessions organized by CLP, I realized the importance of contributing to community development. When projects are being executed, I ensure community members participate in monitoring them and assist with minor repairs instead of waiting for government officials.
I have also learned that women’s participation is essential in governance. Recently, I applied this knowledge to address an uncompleted borehole project. I led a team to the Councillor’s house, discussed the issue with him, and he resolved it with the Local Government’s help.
This CLP program has given our community the voice to speak out on issues affecting us. CLP has been a great blessing and a remarkable success in Osun State. May God continue to guide and move the organization forward.
Grace Oyelabu
Community Leader,
Osogbo Local Government Area,
Osun State
In Ilejemeje Local Government Area, women trained by CLP have taken on vital roles in monitoring the allocation and use of local government budgets. Their active participation has ensured transparency, leading to better service delivery and infrastructure improvements.
Community Life Project (CLP) is an organization that has positively impacted me as an individual and the community at large.
I started attending CLP programmes in 2015. Since then, CLP has engaged both the community and government officials in various programmes and projects that have brought development to our communities and Local Government. For instance, women have been trained to take leadership positions in various spheres of life. Our knowledge has been expanded, and our horizons have been widened. CLP has also given me the courage to participate in activities that can change traditional ways of governance to more standardized and modernized approaches.
One notable example is budget preparation. Before CLP’s intervention, the approach was top-down, with little or no impact on the people. However, CLP has transformed the process into a participatory one, empowering the community to actively engage in budget-making and control their own development, with the support of government officials.
Another area where our confidence has grown is in election monitoring, ensuring a free and fair electoral process in Nigeria.
CLP has instilled in us the courage to ask questions of the political elite about their responsibilities and unfulfilled duties. CLP has truly had a positive impact on our community.
Thank you to CLP. May you continue to fly the flag of progress.
Mrs. O. K. Rotimi
Acting Head,
Local Government Administration,
Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area,
Ekiti State
Through CLP’s microcredit program, women in the Niger Delta have gained financial independence. By providing small loans, CLP has enabled these women to start businesses and support their families, enabling a ripple effect of economic growth within their communities.
"TCLP has encouraged me, as well as other members of my organization, to feel a sense of belonging in our respective communities. We now know our rights and what actions to take at any given time. CLP has especially pushed me to become bold enough to speak in the presence of important personalities in society. We now have the courage to question and hold accountable those responsible for community projects.
Community members can now ask the government for the projects they need, rather than having the government impose projects on us that may not be necessary. Gone are the days when the government would decide what to execute without considering the community's needs. Thanks to CLP, we now have the power to determine what we want the government to do for us. We also have access to the local government budget preparation and implementation process in our community.
Kudos to CLP!"
Mrs. Khadijat Olufunke Ogundele
Federation of Muslim Women's
Associations in Nigeria (FOMWAN)
Irepodun/Ifelodun Local Government Area
Ekiti State
CLP’s initiatives have enabled women in Osun State to engage actively in politics. Women leaders trained by CLP have assumed significant roles in local governance, ensuring that women’s voices are heard and their issues are addressed.
"Politics was always something I thought was beyond my reach. CLP showed me that my voice matters. Today, I am involved in local government, advocating for women's rights and community welfare. The journey has been empowering, and I am proud to be a part of this change."
Mrs. Udoh Kemi Dada,
Political Leader, Osun State
CLP has collaborated with local communities in Lagos to provide health education, focusing on maternal health and HIV/AIDS prevention. These programs have significantly improved health outcomes and reduced stigma around critical health issues.
CLP’s innovative use of Theatre-for-Development (TFD) in Isolo helped communicate sensitive health topics in an engaging and culturally appropriate manner. Through drama, songs, and storytelling, CLP reached thousands of community members, changing perceptions and increasing awareness about HIV/AIDS.
I woke up one day in 2005 and drove to my Doctor's Clinic. I was preparing to travel to the United Kingdom for greener pastures. My Doctor told me to test for HIV. I said: “No. I'm perfectly healthy.” I tested positive. I had heard about HIV/AIDS but never believed it could happen to me. The Doctor referred me to a Pharmacist at Egbeda. I went to the Pharmacist, distressed. I said I would kill myself.
The Pharmacist referred me to the Community Life Project (CLP) in Isolo. I went to CLP where they warmly welcomed me. They counselled me. I went for treatment and I was put on some drugs. When I reacted to the medication, CLP helped me through it. I was in the hospital for one month. CLP paid my bills and took care of me, including my food and other needs. CLP accompanied me on my difficult journey. Whenever I was down and thinking of giving up, CLP was there to counsel me and give me hope. It gave me hope that I could live a fulfilled life even while living with HIV.
Now, I have two children who are HIV negative. My husband is also negative. I am still on my drugs and CLP has been with me through it all since 2005. Even a few weeks ago, in this month of October 2022, I reached out to CLP and it helped me pay my children's school fees. Schools had resumed but my children were at home as I and my husband were having some financial difficulties. I thank CLP.
I took other people like me to CLP and it helped them all. If not for CLP many of us would have committed suicide. Most of the time, because of stigma, we have nobody to talk to about our plight. But CLP is there for us for our different needs. CLP even helps some of us to pay house rent when things are rough. CLP gave us hope and continues to give us hope.
I want to use this opportunity to thank all the organisations that have been supporting CLP. I appeal to them to, please, continue to support CLP. I urge all companies that can support CLP to, please, support it in the good work that it is doing. My life story, our lives today, isa testimony that the money given to CLP is money well spent. It is saving lives.
I thank God for CLP, and for all the lives he has positively impacted through CLP. I pray that CLP will continue to do the good work of giving help, hope and strength to the weak ones, like me, in our society.
Happy 30th Anniversary to CLP!
CLP’s health education programs in Ekiti State have significantly reduced maternal mortality rates by educating women on the importance of prenatal care and safe delivery practices. The program has also trained local health workers to provide better support to expectant mothers.
"Before CLP’s program, many women in my community didn’t know the importance of regular health check-ups during pregnancy. Now, we see more women going to clinics, and the difference in health outcomes is clear." –
Mrs. Janetademola Joshua,
Health Advocate, Ekiti State.
In collaboration with the Nigeria Automobile Technicians Association (NATA), CLP integrated health education into the artisans’ regular meetings, making it convenient for them to learn about HIV/AIDS prevention and general health.
"Learning about health in our meetings was something new. It showed us that health is not just a personal issue but a community one. The information has helped me take better care of myself and my family."
Ganiu Adebisi,
Artisan,
Lagos
“After we went to the ReclaimNaija programme last year, I had to call my women throughout this State. I went to the president of each Local Government chapter. I taught them that we have to belong to political parties of our choice. The ReclaimNaija programme, the first one I attended, inspired NCWS throughout this State. So, I want to appeal to ReclaimNaija, and some other NGOs that can fund this type of programme, to continue so that our women can raise their heads.”
- Chief Mrs Folashade Asafa (President, NCWS, Osun State)
“Each time our FOMWAN members attend ReclaimNaija programmes, they come back to share what they learnt. Last time, they came back to tell us that ReclaimNaija is interested in getting more women into leadership positions and political office. They want to encourage women to have confidence, to face political challenges in society, especially at the grassroots level.
I never thought of becoming a politician, even after retirement, but what I learnt from our members, who were beneficiaries of the project, gave me the confidence and courage when I was called upon to be a deputy governorship candidate."
- Hajia Marian Ogunlade (Former National Women Leader, Labour Party, Ekiti State)
