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International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025 was marked with a resounding call to action: collaboration and acceleration towards gender equality. Across the globe, women and allies came together to reflect on progress, celebrate achievements, and push for greater impact. This year’s theme, “Accelerate Progress: Collaborate for Change”, resonated deeply with organizations, individuals, and activists working towards gender equity and social justice.
In Jos, Nigeria, the Executive Director and Founder of Community Outreach for Educational Change (COEC), Swanta Blessing Bonat, hosted a significant roundtable discussion with founders and CEOs of various women-led organizations. The event provided an opportunity for women to connect, strategize, and foster collaborations that will drive sustainable impact in their respective fields.
The roundtable was a moment of inspiration, as women from diverse sectors came together with a shared vision. One participant expressed gratitude for the opportunity, saying, “Thanks for giving us the opportunity to thrive, and for opening up your office to make us connect, strategize, and meet fellow CEOs and founders. Today, we have even met some of our friends on Facebook physically, and we will collaborate with each other for our future work.” She added, “We will be a catalyst, and thrive for this movement.”
A key highlight of the gathering was the donation of the book “Brave Enough to Succeed, 40 Strategies for Getting Unstuck” by Maryam Imogie, Founder of the Global Alliance for the Ministries and Infrastructure of Peace (GAMIP). Each participant received a free copy, reinforcing the spirit of resilience and empowerment that defined the day’s conversations.
The gathering also served as a platform for exchanging contacts and social media handles, with a collective pledge to work together to address the increasing challenges faced by women, girls, and other vulnerable groups in Nigerian society.
The event showcased the impactful work being carried out by various organizations, each playing a unique role in advancing gender equality and social justice.
Lami Gidado, Founder of Cluster4Kids, emphasized the role of Play Therapy in supporting children with slow learning disorders. She highlighted how her organization has trained specialists to bridge the gap in this critical field, leading to life-changing transformations for many children.
Milcher Pwajok, Agro Processor and Family Transformational Coach, described the meeting as timely and strategic, adding that decisions are often made around a table, reinforcing the significance of such a gathering.
Ruth Philips, Co-Founder of Hedges of Mercy, shared her organization’s commitment to rehabilitating drug addicts and young people in need of recovery support. She highlighted their work in establishing a recovery center, as well as girl child development initiatives in Kebbi State, where they have helped prevent child marriages by settling family debts.
Christiana Ishaku, Co-Founder of Joseph Hope Foundation, spoke on her organization’s commitment to providing free education, medical services, and character-building programs in rural communities. She emphasized the need to empower women through agricultural initiatives under the “Mothers of Hope Group.”
Swanta Blessing BonT, in her presentation, shared her inspiring journey from being a teacher in an international school in Abuja to founding a model school in her village, Samaru Kaduna. She detailed how she started with just nine students, and today, the school has grown to 153 children and 54 staff members, demonstrating the power of commitment and vision.
Tr. Swanta underscored the importance of collaboration in accelerating progress for women and girls. “Women who break stereotypes create lasting change. Impact happens when we move beyond words because the world needs more women like you,” she said, urging participants to build strong partnerships to maximize their impact.
In line with the IWD 2025 theme, Tr. Swanta further emphasized, “You are here because we, as women, often work in silos. How can we work together instead of individually to create a greater impact?” The discussion led to concrete plans for future partnerships, ensuring that women-led organizations will work together to address societal challenges.
COEC has been at the forefront of advocating for quality education and literacy in underserved communities. During the event, Tr. Swanta shared the organization’s latest initiatives, including:
The establishment of a public library that has already attracted over 90 children.
The Liberated Girl Project (TLG), aimed at empowering young girls through education and mentorship.
Collaboration on the Literacy Amidst Violent Conflict (LAVC) project, addressing the intersection of education and crisis response.
International Women’s Day 2025 was not just about celebration but also about taking action. Across the world, women’s rights advocates used the occasion to call on stakeholders—including corporate leaders, governments, civil society, and the media—to invest in gender equality and amplify the voices of women and girls.
A key takeaway from the COEC roundtable discussion was the power of storytelling, collaboration, and collective action in driving societal change. Women from different backgrounds shared their unique experiences and challenges, but they left the event with a renewed commitment to work together.
As Tr. Swanta put it in her closing remarks, “The reason for gathering you women today to mark IWD 2025 is to inspire you and accelerate progress. We are here today as founders of different NGOs working on women, girls, and the vulnerable to speak about our work and find ways to collaborate to make a greater impact.”
With a strong foundation of collaboration and shared purpose, the women who participated in this gathering are set to create lasting change for future generations.
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