Hello and welcome to the 23rd edition of SWIFT!
If this edition feels a bit more "sparkling" than usual, it’s because we are still catching our breath from a historic milestone. This past November, ActionAid Nigeria turned 25! From our humble beginnings to a federation of courage, AAN@25 was more than a corporate anniversary—it was a family reunion. A special highlight was hosting Arthur Larok, the Secretary General of our International Federation. Since it was Arthur’s first time in Nigeria, we shared a running joke with him: if you haven't been to Nigeria, you haven't truly been to Africa yet!
Arthur joined us for a deeply moving visit to the Pasepa community in the FCT. As a community where we have implemented child sponsorship since 2006, Pasepa holds a special place in our hearts. Walking through the renovated health centre and the skill acquisition centre, Arthur saw firsthand how the long-term commitment of our supporters has transformed the lives of children and families over nearly two decades.
The celebration continued with a grand gala at the Transcorp Hilton, Abuja. It was a night of joy, reflection, and deep gratitude as we premiered a legacy documentary that brought community voices to the big screen and unveiled our legacy book, Footprints. The night was also about honouring the people who walk this path with us. We presented awards to institutional donors like the Ford Foundation, government partners, and media allies who amplify our voice. Most importantly, we recognised the "community heroes"—the smallholder women farmers of SWOFON, education coalitions, and activists who are the true backbone of our work. We also took a moment of silence to honour fallen colleagues who gave their lives in service to this mission.
In this edition, you will also find my Seville Journals, where I took our demand for debt justice to the United Nations. But the real energy lies in the stories of our people: the "Return and a Rebirth" showing how the RECONNECT project is restoring dignity to returnees; "Na Us Dey Run Am," which explores the strengthening of youth-led NGOs through EVOLVE; and the story of Aisha, the woman mechanic breaking barriers in Geidam. You will also see our collective stand for justice through the "Fund Our Future" and "Pots and Pans" campaigns with MOT!ON.
If you would like to own a piece of our history, Footprints is available for purchase at our offices or online via Selar here. After 25 years, the message is clear: this is just the beginning. Armed with our history to guide us, we are ready for the next quarter-century.
Have a good read!
Andrew Mamadu Country Director, ActionAid Nigeria