The Ford Foundation Office for West Africa (FFOWA) has celebrated its 65th anniversary in Abuja under the theme “OWA@65: From Nation Building to Social Justice,” marking more than six decades of transformative partnerships and impact across the region.
In her opening remarks, Dr ChiChi Aniagolu-Okoye, Regional Director of FFOWA, reflected on the Foundation’s enduring legacy, emphasising that its success lies not merely in monetary grants but in the lasting relationships and shared purpose it has cultivated.
“Our legacy is not defined by the half a billion dollars granted to 1,098 partners, although these numbers are not insignificant,” she said. “It is best reflected in the spirit that underpinned each partnership, in the profound and long-standing relationships we built with our partners.”
Since opening its first regional office in Lagos in 1960, the same year Nigeria gained independence, the Ford Foundation has worked with more than 1,000 partners across Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal, supporting initiatives in education, governance, gender equality, human rights, the arts, and environmental justice.
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Dr Aniagolu-Okoye described the anniversary as “a profound moment of gratitude and recommitment,” reaffirming the Foundation’s dedication to building just and inclusive societies through collaboration and local empowerment.
Speaking at the event, Mr Martín Abregu, the Foundation’s Senior Vice President, highlighted West Africa’s central role in shaping the global mission of the Foundation.
“The Ford Foundation began as an American philanthropic institution, but today it is a global organisation rooted in local realities. What happens in the Niger Delta, Ghana’s universities, or the streets of Dakar informs how the world understands social justice,” he noted.
Delivering the keynote address, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, SAN, GCON, and former Vice President of Nigeria, commended the Foundation’s partnership model and its people-centred approach to development.
“The Ford Foundation’s approach is a model of partnership rooted in humility, courage, and a steadfast belief in the potential of West Africans to drive their own progress,” he said.
Goodwill messages were shared by Dr Peter Mbah, Governor of Enugu State; Darren Walker, outgoing President of the Ford Foundation; and Heather Gerken, the Foundation’s current President.
In a message delivered on her behalf by Madam Tolu Onafowokan, Director of Strategic Communications, Madam Gerken reaffirmed her commitment to deepening the Foundation’s partnerships and trust-based philanthropy.
“Our task is to build on the gains already made, to deepen accountability, strengthen democratic institutions, expand opportunity, and protect the most vulnerable,” she said. “The Foundation will continue to listen first, respect local expertise, and support bold ideas that emerge from communities themselves.”
She also extended congratulations to Nigeria on its 65th year of independence, noting the parallel milestones as symbols of shared progress and partnership.
As part of the celebration, FFOWA launched a legacy publication and documentary film chronicling its six-decade journey of advancing equality, justice, and inclusive development in West Africa.
Dr Aniagolu-Okoye concluded the event by reaffirming that the Foundation’s future will continue to be guided by collaboration, empathy, and the pursuit of a fairer world for all.
