Wikipedia

Women's Health and Equal Rights Initiative

Women's Health and Equal Rights Initiative (WHER) is a Nigerian feminist non-profit organization that supports lesbians, bisexuals, and other sexual minority women (LBSMW). WHER promotes knowledge of sexuality and sexual orientation, provides a platform for the promotion of the wellbeing and protection of the rights of LBSMW, and provides access to health and other support services for LBSMW.[1] Women's Health and Equal Rights Initiative was founded in 2011 in Abuja by Akudo Oguaghamba,[2] and it is led by lesbian and bisexual women.[3]

Women's Health and Equal Rights (WHER) Initiative
Founded2011
TypeNGO, Nonprofit
Location
  • Abuja, Nigeria
ProductsAdvocacy; empowerment; health and well-being; research and documentation; e-library (books)
Key people
Akudo Oguaghamba
Websitehttps://whernigeria.org/

Programs

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As a partner in the Solidarity Alliance for Human Rights and other alliances of individuals and organizations working on protecting and promoting the human rights of sexual and gender minorities, WHER advocates for the advancement and realization of human rights and equal access to opportunities for marginalized women in Nigeria.[1] They also support transgender and gender-non-conforming people.[4][5] Issues of marginalization that WHER works with include low literacy, education, and employment,[6] along with stigma and discrimination.[7][8] A volunteer with WHER spoke publicly against Same Sex Marriage (Prohibition) Act 2013 while legislators were discussing the bill,[9] and the organizations's work has included advocacy and education for the public after the law was enacted.[10]

WHER provides human rights training, counselling, and legal aid, and they have received funding from Mama Cash for this work.[11] For example, Oguaghamba said that during the COVID-19 pandemic, WHER advocated for women facing extortion and persecution due to their orientations.[12] They have implemented mental health and human rights training, financial empowerment workshops, consciousness-raising, and community education activities.[13][14] WHER's Sister 2 Sister initiative trains leaders across the country to provide counseling, peer support and coordinate local community networks in their respective cities.[15] WHER has received grant funding from FRIDA, The Young Feminist Fund, for activism and organising work.[16][17] WHER has also advocated for changes to laws to support equal rights for LGBTQ people, in collaboration with other organisations.[18]

The Women's Health and Equal Rights Initiative organises the annual African Pride Accelerated summit, which began in 2022.[19][20] Participation in the summit is through a call for applications, during which activists, leaders, stakeholders, and individuals apply to take part. The goal of the summit is to advance LGBTQ equality in the country.[21]

See also

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References

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  1. 1 2 "Women's Health and Equal Rights Initiative". Out Of The Margins. Stonewall. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
  2. ↑ "Empowering Sexual Minority Women in Nigeria". Equitas - International Centre for Human Rights Education. 2017-05-16. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
  3. ↑ "Nigeria: Anti-LGBTQ vigilante groups, including their objectives, structure, activities, and areas of influence; response of the authorities and state protection (2018–October 2020) [NGA200343.E]". Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. 29 October 2020. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
  4. ↑ ""Where Are the Women?" — Akudo Oguaghamba on Reclaiming Space for LBQ Voices in Nigeria". GiveOut. 2026-03-26. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
  5. ↑ O’Malley, Devi Leiper; Johnson, Ruby (2018-09-02). "A young feminist new order: an exploration of why young feminists organise the way they do". Gender & Development. 26 (3): 533–550. doi:10.1080/13552074.2018.1526370. ISSN 1355-2074. For example, when Akudo Oguaghamba founded the Women's Health and Equal Rights Initiative (WHER), one of the first lesbian, bisexual, trans* women's organisations in Nigeria, she faced a lot of insistence from others to quit her current full-time job (in another sector) and make WHER her full-time job.
  6. ↑ Obineche, Chidi; Ogaga, Tony; Adiele, Chidinma (2020-03-31). "The World of Nigeria's lesbians". The Sun. Lagos, Nigeria. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
  7. ↑ "The Situation of Sexual and Gender Minorities in Nigeria (2014-2018)". Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. February 2019. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
  8. ↑ "Nigeria: Information on how bisexuality is understood and perceived in Nigeria; whether bisexuality is distinguished from both male and female homosexuality (2014-June 2015)". Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. 9 September 2015. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
  9. ↑ Ejikeme, Anene (2021), Yacob-Haliso, Olajumoke; Falola, Toyin (eds.), "LGBTI+ Organizations in West Africa and North Africa: Fighting for Equal Rights", The Palgrave Handbook of African Women's Studies, Cham: Springer International Publishing, pp. 1–17, doi:10.1007/978-3-319-77030-7_18-1, ISBN 978-3-319-77030-7, retrieved 2026-06-16{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link)
  10. ↑ Toesland, Finbarr (April 2017). "Fighting for LGBT Rights in Nigeria". Diva – via EBSCO. Akudo Oguaghamba, executive director of the Women's Health and Equal Rights Initiative (WHER), is at the forefront of the call for equal rights for Nigeria's LGBT citizens..."In Nigeria, after the Same Sex Marriage Prohibition Act was enacted, a great deal of awareness was raised around LGBT rights and what it means to be a homosexual. We have continued to educate the Nigerian people carefully to understand that we are humans too and deserve to reach our full potential, regardless of sexual orientation and gender identity."
  11. ↑ Srivastava, Mihika (April 26, 2020). "Lesbian Visibility Day Is a Time to Defend, Uplift, and Strategize". The Advocate. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
  12. ↑ Jjuuko, Adrian; Gloppen, Siri; Msosa, Alan; Viljoen, Frans (2022-11-21). Queer lawfare in Africa: Legal strategies in contexts of LGBTIQ+ criminalisation and politicisation. Pretoria University Law Press. p. 219.
  13. ↑ Daemon, Mike (2019-08-27). "Here's a newsletter every Nigerian lesbian, bisexual and queer woman should read". Rights Africa. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
  14. ↑ "WHER unveils Human Rights Resource Guide for Nigerian Women". The Rustin Times. 2018-04-03. Retrieved 2021-06-17.
  15. ↑ "Sister 2 Sister Support Services Project". WHER. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
  16. ↑ Johnson, Ruby (2021-08-27). "Feminist friendship as method: experiences of re-organising power in philanthropy". Alliance Magazine. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
  17. ↑ Ranganathan, Deepa (2014-12-18). "Do you remember your first time?". FRIDA - The Young Feminist Fund. Retrieved 2026-06-15.
  18. ↑ Narrain, Arvind; Vance Mubanga, Kim (January 2020). "Building Stronger Equality Movements: Intersectional approaches to advancing women's and LGBT+ rights in the Commonwealth" (PDF). Gender Equality Innovations. Royal Commonwealth Society. p. 10. Retrieved 15 June 2026.
  19. ↑ "APA 2022". WHER. 2023-12-01. Retrieved 2025-12-16.
  20. ↑ "Akudo Oguaghamba on Empowering Nigeria's LGBTQI Community, Pride and Global Solidarity". GiveOut. 2025-05-14. Retrieved 2025-12-16.
  21. ↑ "✨ We are proud to celebrate our Executive Director, who has been honored with the Pride Resilience Award during the 4th Africa Pride Accelerated celebration! ". Chiyn Initiative. 2025-09-15. Retrieved 2025-12-16.
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