The Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI) has felicitated Mrs. Ezinwa Okoroafor on her historic election as the International President of the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) at the recent Conference held in Colombia.
Mrs. Okoroafor, a distinguished Nigerian legal practitioner, is the first African to hold this prestigious position, a testament to her lifelong commitment to the rule of law, advocacy for women’s rights, and dedication to transparent governance.
The Executive Secretary of NEITI, Dr Orji Ogbonnaya Orji while expressing his support explained that Mrs. Okoroafor’s election marks a significant milestone for Nigeria and Africa, underscoring the principles and standards that NEITI and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI) hold dear.
Dr Orji in a statement on Wednesday by the Ag. Director, Communications and Stakeholder Management, Obiageli Onuorah, remarked “EITI’s mission of fostering transparent and accountable governance in natural resource management aligns seamlessly with FIDA’s goals of protecting human rights, promoting women’s inclusion, and advancing social justice worldwide”.
The NEITI Executive Secretary remarked that both EITI and FIDA champion the inclusion of civil society voices, a key component in fostering democratic values, upholding human rights, and reducing poverty through open, accountable ethical governance.
“As NEITI pursues the principles of EITI at the national level, Mrs. Okoroafor’s leadership at FIDA presents exciting opportunities for collaboration. Together, FIDA and NEITI can further advocate for women’s involvement in Nigeria’s extractive industries, an area critical to transparency and gender equality; Dr Orji added.
“NEITI is confident that under Mrs. Okoroafor’s stewardship, FIDA will continue to be a powerful voice for advancing human rights and holding entities accountable”. The Executive Secretary concluded.
Mrs. Okoroafor brings extensive experience to her new role, including her previous service as FIDA’s International Secretary, Regional Vice President for Africa, and National President of FIDA Nigeria. She has also made invaluable contributions to the Nigerian legal community as a Council Member of the Nigerian Bar Association Women Forum, National Chairperson of the Society of Women in Taxation of Nigeria, and delegate to Nigeria’s National Conference in 2014.
NEITI looks forward to deepening its partnership with FIDA under Mrs. Okoroafor’s leadership. Together, we can explore joint initiatives that strengthen transparency and accountability in governance, especially within the extractive sectors, where the inclusion and empowerment of women can bring transformative change.
NEITI applauds Mrs. Okoroafor for this groundbreaking achievement, and we remain steadfast in our support for her vision of an inclusive, transparent, and just society.
