The Women With Stories Festival – Beyond the Statistics

At the Women With Stories 2025 Storytelling Festival in Abuja, themed “Beyond the Statistics,” inspiring voices came together to remind us that numbers alone can’t capture the heart, courage, and lived realities of women. Special goodwill remarks came from Engr. Fatima Faruk, Special Assistant to the President on Women Affairs, who reminded us that behind every statistic is a face, a name, and a dream. She highlighted initiatives like GISO – Girls in School Outreach, which empowers young girls to see education as freedom and opportunity, and the OrangeHope Initiative, which tackles SGBV through grassroots advocacy, systemic reforms, and restoring dignity.

Also present at the festival were Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, Mandate Secretary for Women Affairs Secretariat (WAS), FCT; Hon. Minister Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, fsi, Minister of Women Affairs; Ms. Yeside Olasimbo, Special Assistant to the Speaker on Women’s Affairs; and closing the circle of voices, Dr. Naomi Osemedua, Chief Storyteller, Women With Stories International.

Together, these women are rewriting the narrative-proving that beyond the numbers are real stories that inspire change.