Since about 1980, the idea began to form in the minds of some educated Muslim women of establishing a national Islamic organization for women. It was observed that there were educated Muslim women in various parts of the country who wanted to increase their knowledge and practice of Islam. Some had already formed Islamic study groups. Some had organized classes for uneducated women, and some had established nursery and primary schools. Others were interested and wanted to serve Islam but were not in touch with others of like mind.
Most of the organized groups operated entirely in isolation, not knowing of each other’s existence. Therefore there was no mutual encouragement and no exchange of ideas, programs or information. There was therefore need for a central focus to link all these groups together and to help establish new groups in areas where there was none before.
Another serious need was for a body, which could express the views of Muslim women at National and state levels. Many women societies already existed in the country mostly aiming at social progress for women, and some Muslim women joined such societies. However, in most cases they were dominated by non-Muslims who were not interested in an Islamic approach to social problems and current issues.
At national and international levels such societies would even claim to be speaking for all Nigerian women, while the ideas they put forward were often contrary to the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah, and therefore not acceptable to Muslims. It was therefore felt necessary to establish an independent platform from which Muslim women could express a specifically Islamic view of the problems of women and of the society in general.
Lastly it was felt that certain problems affecting Muslim women in particular, such as that of female education and the fulfillment of women’s rights as guaranteed under the Shari’ah, could only be effectively tackled by the initiative of Muslim women, in co-operation with their male counterparts. This is because the problems of a Muslim community must be cured by Islamic solutions that will be acceptable to conscientious Muslims at all levels of society. With all these needs in mind, the women concerned met in April 1985 in Kano and agreed to call a conference to establish the organization, which was done in October 1985 in Minna.
FOMWAN is registered with the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) as a non governmental organisation and coalition/network of Muslim Women Organisations in Nigeria. It has a national secretariat that houses its operations while affiliates/branches exist at the state level and they enjoy some measure of autonomy, however, the two are bond together and guided by a national constitution and set of laws derived from Islamic practices and injunctions. Efforts are being made to establish local government branches.
As the responsibilities of FOMWAN increases, widened scope of operations and with increased partnership and collaboration with international and local development partners, it becomes necessary for the National Secretariat to strengthen its operations including setting up and equipping its national secretariat, provision of modern technology and employment of skilled (paid) staff. In line with the findings of an organisational assessment using MOST approach and tool, FOMWAN realises and reiterated its determination to strengthen its structure, systems and processes. And with paid staff in place to complement the volunteers, it becomes imperative to adopt a set of rules and norms to guide conduct and actions and assist in administering and managing its human resources.
FOMWAN’s main aim is educating the Muslim woman and also promoting the understanding and practice of the teachings of the Qur’an and Sunnah. Others are:
Our mission is to propagate the religion of Islam in Nigeria through da’awah, establishment of educational institutions and other outreach activities. And to improve the socio-economic status of the populace especially women, youth and children through training, provision of qualitative education, health and humanitarian services, micro enterprise scheme and advocacy.
FOMWAN’S POLICY INVOLVEMENT
FOMWAN is an NGO with consultative status with the United Nations. Since inception, FOMWAN has made input into policies through partnership with government thereby earning it an official stakeholder status in the Federal Government’s Universal Basic Education (UBE), the Nomadic Education programs, and at the Joint Consultative Committee on Education (JCCE). The organization is also involved in the FG/UNICEF Qur’anic Education program. FOMWAN is a member of the Civil Society Coalition on Education for All (CSACEFA), an initiative that was initially funded by Action Aid. Various State branches are also networking and collaborating with other non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in education and rehabilitation of Almajiris.
FOMWAN’S EDUCATIONAL POLICIES
Advocacy for the retention of girls in the Schools.
Advocacy for continuing education for married women, because
marriage should not be a barrier to learning.
Promoting Education as a means to poverty Eradication.
Promoting the integration of Qur’anic schools to include literacy, numeric and vocational training.
Promoting the nomadic education and education for the handicapped and others in difficult exceptional Circumstances.
Promoting Market Women Education in basic literacy skills.
Our mission is to propagate the religion of Islam in Nigeria through da’awah, establishment of educational institutions and other outreach activities. And to improve the socio-economic status of the populace especially women, youth and children through training, provision of qualitative education, health and humanitarian services, micro enterprise scheme and advocacy.
The vision of FOMWAN is a world where women are totally empowered to be role models in making positive impacts in religious and secular matters.