Advocacy visit to the New Karu Market Women Association
In January 2026, we met the New Karu Market Women Association to open links between young women trained under our FEF-OSC project and real market opportunities.
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In January 2026, Olive Rights to Health Initiative (ORHI) made an advocacy and engagement visit to the New Karu Market Women Association in Nasarawa State. The visit was part of the FEF-OSC 2025 project, “Promoting Economic Empowerment and Access to Health Services by Young Female Sex Workers and Females Who Use Drugs”, funded by the Embassy of France in Nigeria and delivered with Beam Community Development 360 Initiative (BCD360).
Our aim was to find practical ways to link young women who have gained skills through the project with real market opportunities and sustainable livelihoods, so that their economic gains last.
The Chairlady of the Association welcomed our team and commended the work of the project. She reaffirmed the market women’s commitment to inclusion and support, and assured us of:
- links to existing cooperatives, trade groups and market networks
- mentorship and guidance for the young women as they grow as entrepreneurs
- knowledge-sharing from experienced market women
Partnerships like this put empowerment into practice. Skills training matters most when it leads to opportunity, and community support of this kind gives young women a clearer path to dignity and self-reliance. We are grateful to the Association for its solidarity.
