Ahead of Women’s History Month, TOS Foundation Africa has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Embassy of Switzerland in Nigeria to advance the HerCademy Leadership Institute, a practical, pan-African political readiness programme designed to equip women to run for public office and win.
The agreement was formalised by the Founder of TOS Foundation Africa, Osasu Igbinedion Ogwuche, alongside the Ambassador of Switzerland to Nigeria, Patrick Egloff, marking a significant step forward in efforts to expand women’s political leadership across the continent.
In a statement, the Embassy of Switzerland in Nigeria underscored the strategic importance of the collaboration. “The agreement, signed by Ambassador Patrick Egloff and the Deputy Head of Mission, Mr. Siamak Rouhani, reflects Switzerland’s long-standing commitment to democratic governance, gender equality, and inclusive political participation.
“This partnership aims to equip women leaders with the skills, networks, and confidence to advance in legislative spaces. We look forward to supporting this exciting journey and the transformational impact it will have in strengthening democratic institutions and empowering women in leadership.”
As convener of the Reserved Seats for Women Bill campaign coalition, TOS Foundation Africa has been at the forefront of efforts to strengthen women’s political representation in Nigeria. The Foundation has also worked consistently to build the institutional capacity required to empower more women to run for office, recognising that legislative reform must be matched with practical readiness.
Over the past several months, TOS Foundation Africa has worked closely with academics, former aspirants, scholars, legislators, and key partners to design a world-class curriculum tailored to women who feel called to lead but lack access to the practical tools required to step
forward.
HerCademy is built as a hands-on political readiness programme focused on real-world preparation rather than theory. The initiative is anchored on three core principles: groundingparticipants in context-specific political realities, prioritizing skills-based training over motivation alone, and building a strong alumni network to foster long-term collaboration and support.
The inaugural cohort will bring together 37 women from Nigeria, one from each state and the FCT, for intensive, practice-oriented training designed to strengthen their competitiveness in
the political arena.
Speaking at the signing Ogwuche emphasised the urgency of moving beyond encouragement to concrete preparation. “Across Africa, there is no shortage of capable women who feel deeply called to serve. What has been missing, for too long, is structured access to the practical knowledge, the strategic tools, and the supportive networks that turn aspiration into electoral success.”
She noted that HerCademy was intentionally designed to close this gap. “HerCademy is our answer to that gap. This is not about motivation alone. It is about equipping women with the competence, the confidence, and the community they need to step forward, compete effectively, and win.”
Ogwuche further described the partnership with the Embassy of Switzerland as an important signal of growing international commitment to inclusive democratic leadership. “When we invest deliberately in women’s political readiness, we strengthen the credibility of our institutions and the responsiveness of our democracies. This partnership reflects a shared belief that Africa’s progress depends on expanding the table of leadership.”
The HerCademy Leadership Institute represents a deliberate next step in TOS Foundation Africa’s broader strategy to build a sustainable pipeline of women leaders prepared to navigate the realities of political competition across the continent.
