The Mothers and Marginalised Advocacy Centre (MAMA Centre) is a Non-Governmental, non-profit making, non-partisan organisation established in 2014. The Organisation engages government on legislative and policy advocacy to eliminate threats to the socio-economic and political status of the marginalised groups and advance their socio-economic and political rights towards self-determination, self-reliance and self-sustenance in Nigeria. Through its engagement strategies—advocacy, capacity building, research and networking, the organisation works to ensure full participation and partnership of women and men in productive and reproductive life, including shared responsibilities for the care and nurturing of children and maintenance of the household. The organisation empowers women to receive formal education in showcasing their knowledge, abilities and coping mechanisms to attain healthy and fulfilling lives. Through regular field-based research and fact-findings, MAMA Centre creates socio-economic empowerment platforms that enable women to innovatively improve on the existing income-generating activities, save more money, develop financial literacy, and diversify in other income-generating activities. In addition to increasing women’s access to financial services, the organisation prioritises skills learning and capacity building, self-esteem, increasing access to information and resources, and promoting collective action among women in community associations.

In 2018, MAMA Centre with support from Voice Nigeria implemented an empowerment Project called EMPOWER, which was initiated by Amachala-Ngwo women rightsholders. The aim of the project was to strengthen the rightsholders capacity to advocate to their state government for social amenities that will impact positively on their livelihood, specifically palm oil processing machine. The advocacy was highly impactful, so much so that other neighboring communities started seeking support from MAMA Centre.

This year, the women from Udi Local Government Area approached MAMA Centre for similar intervention. That they are indigenous farmers, who derive most of their income from the sale of farm products. However, the roads leading from their villages to markets and to other neighboring towns like Ekeani Enugu village via Etiti via Amachala via Umuase to Nsude mission market to Orieagu and Nkwoagu markets are unmotorable. The state government during the past administration awarded contracts to build the linking roads for ease of movement from the hinterland to the cities so that smallholder farmers will have means of transporting their goods to improve incomes. For lack of access roads, the women farmers earn very little for their hard work, most of the perishable items spoil from lack of storage facilities or lack of buyers and access roads to transport goods to cities where they can get value for their money. There is serious lack of accountability in monitoring contracts and this has been the bane of community development and employment opportunities for young people.

The Accountability for Change (A4E) Project, is an advocacy Project designed by rightsholders in Udi LGA who desire assistance in the area of capacity strengthening to demand accountability from government on abandoned livelihood projects that would have improved their economic activities in Udi Local government area of Enugu state. The goal of the Project is that government completes abandoned roads to improve rightsholders livelihood.