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Tag: Policy Innovation Centre

  • Transport safety, self-care emerge as priorities in Nigeria’s gender and inclusion agenda

    Transport safety, self-care emerge as priorities in Nigeria’s gender and inclusion agenda

    Safer, more efficient transport systems and self-care as a transformative health strategy have emerged as key priorities for Nigeria’s gender and inclusion agenda, following the first two editions of the Pre-GS25 Breakfast Dialogues convened by the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC).

    The high-level discussions brought together policymakers, private sector leaders, and development partners to address pressing challenges in mobility and health equity, with the goal of shaping the agenda for the Gender and Inclusion Summit 2025 (GS-25).

    In a statement issued on Thursday, PIC’s Strategic Communications Lead, Omofuoma Agharite, said the events provided a platform for lived experiences to inform actionable policy recommendations.

    At the “Mobility for All” session, a student from the Miva Open University of Nigeria recounted a harrowing “one chance” experience in which she was pushed out of a moving vehicle and robbed. “Each time I see a black car with a male driver, I’m reminded of what happened to me. When I landed, a passerby told me that just days before, a woman had been stabbed in the same spot,” she shared.

    Similarly, a person with a disability described the indignities of navigating unsafe and inefficient public transport systems, underscoring the urgency of gender-responsive and inclusive mobility planning.

    In response, stakeholders recommended structured transport systems, comprehensive audits to improve accessibility, stricter enforcement of safety regulations, and targeted public sensitisation campaigns in collaboration with road transport authorities.

    The dialogues also spotlighted self-care as a vital health strategy. Nutrition expert Dr. Jamila Lawal advocated for urban gardening, safer food preparation methods, and mindful eating to curb non-communicable diseases and improve maternal and infant health.

    Highlighting the nutritional benefits of vegetables such as Ugu, Moringa, and Green, she said: “Food is medicine. You don’t have to break the bank to eat healthy. We have a lot of healthful foods at our disposal in Nigeria.”

    According to PIC, insights from these sessions will help inform the policy direction and reform agenda to be presented at GS-25.

    A representative from the Health Promotion Division of the Federal Ministry of Health, Evelyn Agbayim, also stressed that beyond sharing health information, healthcare workers must be trained and better oriented to foster behaviour change and support self-care practices that align personal health with national development goals, particularly for adolescents, girls and young women. 

    The PIC-led Breakfast Shows are part of a strategic pre-summit dialogue series designed to ensure inclusive public participation and policies for everyday Nigerians. 

    These dialogues have laid the foundation for GS-25’s comprehensive agenda. Under the leadership of the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC), this year’s summit, themed “New Voices and New Approaches for Accelerating an Inclusive Society”, will convene physically and virtually from September 2–4, 2025, in Abuja, at the Abuja Continental Hotel.

    Other key themes that will be addressed at the summit include – the role of faith leaders as drivers of gender equity, the creative economy as a solution to youth unemployment, a high-level ministerial plenary, inclusive education, women in leadership, women’s economic empowerment, recognition and spotlighting of grassroots changemakers, and safe mobility for all. 

    The Purple Book, an annual compendium of outputs from the Summit containing bold, actionable commitments and recommendations will be disseminated thereafter.

    The Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) is the first national institutionalised behavioral initiative in Africa supporting government and stakeholders to make behaviorally informed decisions and generate evidence for impact driven interventions in critical thematic areas. 

    The Policy Innovation Centre is an initiative of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), a leading think tank in Africa redefining evidence-based policy advocacy.

    The Gender and Inclusion Summit was conceptualized in 2022 as an annual event to provide an inclusive platform to explore transformative ways to advance gender equality, inclusion and gender-responsive governance in Africa. 

    The Summit aims to bring together cutting-edge gender-related research and practice providing an opportunity for attendees to share perspectives, exchange ideas, learn and expand their networks for future policy and programmatic work.

  • Policy Innovation Centre to host gender, inclusion summit 2025 in Abuja

    Policy Innovation Centre to host gender, inclusion summit 2025 in Abuja

    The Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) is set to host the 4th edition of its flagship Gender and Inclusion Summit (GS-25) on September 3 and 4, 2025, in Abuja. 

    The two-day event will bring together more than 1,000 participants both in-person and virtually to explore transformative solutions for building a more inclusive society.

    This year’s summit, themed “New Voices and New Approaches for Accelerating an Inclusive Society,” will focus on bold strategies to tackle key challenges such as economic inequality, unequal access to healthcare, educational disparities, housing insecurity, climate change, and the persistent exclusion of marginalized groups, particularly women, youth, and persons with disabilities.

    GS-25 will feature interactive plenaries, thematic breakout sessions, roundtables, exhibitions, poster and oral presentations, as well as a specialized learning workshop.

    Confirmed participants include policymakers, civil society leaders, development partners, youth advocates, diplomats, private sector actors, academics, and grassroots organisers — all collaborating to co-create innovative, scalable solutions aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

    Since its debut in 2022, the summit has evolved into a leading pan-African platform promoting gender-transformative policy, digital inclusion, and behavioural insights in governance. 

    The 2025 edition will continue this momentum, amplifying new voices and evidence-based approaches in shaping inclusive policies.

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    “This summit is more than a convening. It’s a time to pause, reflect, learn, refuel, and refire. It’s a call to action to reimagine Africa’s development path through equity and inclusion,” said Dr. Osasuyi Dirisu, Executive Director of PIC.

    Key focus areas for GS-25 include gender equity in education, women in governance, inclusive healthcare, digital rights, sustainable agriculture, cultural inclusion through the creative economy, legal reforms, and engaging men as allies in achieving gender justice.

    The event will be hosted in a hybrid format to facilitate global participation.

    For registration, sponsorship, or media enquiries, visit: https://policycentre.org/gender-summit/

    The Policy Innovation Centre (PIC), a Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) initiative, is Africa’s first national institutionalised behavioural insight body. 

    Established with support from the Gates Foundation, PIC supports governments and stakeholders in applying evidence-based and behaviourally informed approaches to policymaking and program design.

  • Policy Innovation Centre advances accountability through BiNTA Fellowship

    Policy Innovation Centre advances accountability through BiNTA Fellowship

    …graduates 30 changemakers

    Supported by the MacArthur Foundation, the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) through its Behavioural Insights Network Transparency & Accountability (BiNTA) Fellowship has graduated its first cohort of 30 anti-corruption changemakers.

    These fellows, drawn from various sectors, are committed to driving anti-corruption initiatives in Nigeria.

    Speaking at the graduation ceremony held in Abuja, on Wednesday, November 27, 2024, Dr. Osasuyi Dirisu, Executive Director of PIC, emphasised that the BiNTA fellowship was designed to strengthen the capacity of anti-corruption change makers to leverage behavioural insights to disrupt the social normative status of corruption in Nigeria.

    “We are moving you from being fellows into collaborators. Together, we will be driving a large ecosystem of people who can do valuable work to fight corruption in Nigeria”, she said.

     She affirmed that the Policy Innovation Centre will continue to build capacity for Nigerians committed to combating corruption, ensuring the initiative’s sustainability beyond this first cohort.

    Dr. Abdullahi Usman Bello, Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau, who was also present at the ceremony, lauded the fellowship as a milestone in the fight against corruption and the promotion of ethical practices across Nigeria’s public and private sectors.

    He said: “It is my firm belief that the knowledge, insight and solutions by the BiNTA fellows will make a significant impact on the way we approach governance and anti-corruption initiatives in Nigeria.

    “I’d like to extend my sincere appreciation to the MacArthur Foundation for their support for this important initiative. Your continued investment in Nigeria’s future is invaluable and we are all deeply appreciative of your partnership and quest for a more transparent and accountable society, commending the MacArthur Foundation for their support.”

    Winner Mugana, one of the BiNTA Fellows, described the fellowship as an incredible journey that provided the support she needed to drive change in the energy sector within Kabusa Community, Abuja.

    “Beyond the impact on the community, I have personally gained so much from this fellowship that I can apply in my work in the energy sector,” she shared. “I’m very grateful to the Policy Innovation Centre and the MacArthur Foundation for the opportunity to be part of this program.”

    The six-month fellowship included rigorous training and mentorship, a co-creation phase for developing anti-corruption initiatives using behavioural insights, and an implementation phase where fellows executed their projects with PIC’s support.

    At the event, the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) also launched the Behavioural Insights Network, a community of practice for behavioural insights practitioners, and the enhanced Learning

    Management System to support this ecosystem. Femi Obidare, Project Coordinator, described these as essential platforms for sustaining and expanding anti-corruption efforts.

    Dr. Amina Salihu, Senior Programme Officer at the MacArthur Foundation, praised the fellows’ project presentations, describing them as “strategically relevant”.

    Dr. Salihu highlighted the importance of applying behavioural insights in tackling other societal issues and urged fellows to continue applying their learning. She also underscored the importance of integrating gender and social inclusion strategies into projects and called for strategic government engagement at all levels.

    BiNTA Fellowship was designed by the Policy Innovation Centre’s Behavioural Innovation Lab and is set to start a second cohort by the second quarter of 2025.

    The Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) is the first national institutionalised behavioural initiative in Africa to support government and stakeholders to make behaviorally informed decisions and generate evidence for impact-driven interventions in critical thematic areas. The Policy Innovation Centre is an initiative of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), a leading think-tank in Africa redefining evidence-based policy advocacy.

  • Policy Innovation Centre, Co-Impact call for reforms for women’s economic leadership in Nigeria

    Policy Innovation Centre, Co-Impact call for reforms for women’s economic leadership in Nigeria

    The Policy Innovation Centre, in partnership with Co-Impact, held a Stakeholder Roundtable in Lagos on Friday, November 8, focused on advancing women’s leadership in Nigeria’s economic landscape.

    The event gathered key figures from government, civil society, and the private sector, including Mrs. Shyllon Olufunke, Director of Lagos State Women Affairs, and Prof. Adeola Adenikinju, President of the Nigerian Economic Society.

    They reviewed the Policy Innovation Centre’s latest research on the challenges and opportunities for women in economic leadership, discussing policy reforms to strengthen their role in this sector.

    Gladys Onyango, Associate Director of Programs for Africa at Co-Impact, opened the session by highlighting Nigerian women’s significant contributions to the economy.

    She expressed appreciation for the Policy Innovation Centre’s efforts in organizing the event and commended the collective push to dismantle institutional barriers that hinder women from advancing and leading in economic roles.

    “Together, we can create a future where women’s leadership in economics is not the exception but the norm,” She added.

    Mrs. Shyllon Olufunke, Director of Lagos State Women Affairs, called on stakeholders to recognise challenges faced by women with disabilities in their efforts to advance gender equality.

    She acknowledged the progress made by the public sector through various interventions but stressed that there is still much more to be done.

    “Women are making strides,” she remarked, highlighting the continued need for collective action to ensure women are steadily advancing in the economic sector.

    “In Nigeria, no woman has ever headed the Central Bank since 1999,” Prof. Adeola Adenikinju, President of the Nigerian Economic Society, stated in his keynote address.

    He pointed out that while 50% of the Ministry of Finance leaders have been women, only one woman has served as Chief Economic Adviser to the President.

    He called for the urgent need for policy reforms to address these barriers and increase female representation in economic leadership.

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    He also encouraged women in leadership positions to support and mentor younger women to ensure a more inclusive future for the economic sector.

    Key findings presented by Dr. Mary Jimoh, Gender Research Specialist at the Policy Innovation Centre, highlighted several critical barriers to women’s economic leadership in Nigeria.

    She noted that societal expectations, gender roles, workplace stereotypes, and the abyssmal implementation of gender policies continue to limit women’s advancement in Economic Leadership. 

    “Women in Nigeria are powerful agents of economic transformation,” Dr. Jimoh emphasised, “but they require an environment that not only recognizes their potential but actively facilitates their path to leadership.”

    Recommendations from the study included facilitating peer mentoring and networking opportunities to enable knowledge-sharing and support among women at similar career stages.

    At the policy level, it called for platforms like the Nigerian Economic Society and the Nigerian University Council to mandate the implementation of gender-equitable policies within organisations in Nigeria.

    The panel discussions at the roundtable shared more insights into existing gender policies and discussed gaps in their implementation.

    They collectively underscored a strategic approach to advancing women’s economic leadership across all career levels.

    Stakeholders agreed on the need for tailored initiatives, from mentorship and training programs at entry levels to organisational policies supporting work-life balance at mid-career stages.

    At senior levels, they highlighted the role of mentorship networks and advocacy, with seasoned women leaders actively lobbying for policy reforms that support inclusive leadership, creating an inclusive path for more women to assume high-level economic roles.

    The Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) is the first national institutionalized behavioral initiative in Africa supporting government and stakeholders to make behaviorally informed decisions and generate evidence for impact driven interventions in critical thematic areas.

    The PIC is an initiative of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG), a leading think tank in Africa redefining evidence-based policy advocacy.

    This roundtable is part of the Policy Innovation Centre’s ongoing efforts to create impactful, evidence-based solutions to advance gender equity and social inclusion.