Ford Foundation to celebrate 65 years of impact in West Africa

The Ford Foundation Office for West Africa (FFOWA) is set to commemorate its 65th anniversary with a high-level celebration in Abuja, the nation’s capital, on Wednesday.

The event, themed “OWA@65: From Nation Building to Social Justice”, will bring together government leaders, philanthropists, civil society pioneers, and Ford Foundation executives to reflect on the organisation’s decades-long impact in the region.

In a statement on Tuesday, the foundation said it has provided more than 2,700 grants to at least 1,098 grantees, with total funding exceeding half a billion dollars since opening its first office in Lagos in 1960.

The statement said the grants have supported research and advocacy efforts aimed at deepening social, economic, and political development in West Africa.

ChiChi Aniagolu-Okoye, regional director of the foundation, is expected to deliver the opening remarks, while Martin Abregu, vice-president of international programmes, will lead a dialogue on “West Africa’s roots and routes”.

Other activities include a fireside chat featuring Gbenga Oyebode, a member of the foundation’s board; a documentary screening titled “From script to screen”; and “Frontline voices”, which will spotlight stories from Ford’s partners across the region.

Aniagolu-Okoye described the anniversary as a “testament to the resilience and vision of our partners and the communities we serve”.

“This milestone invites reflection on our shared journey — and renewed resolve to advance social justice and inclusive development across the region,” she said.

Over the years, the foundation said it has maintained a trust-based philanthropic model that prioritises long-term, flexible support for local organisations.

Its programmes span Nigeria, Ghana, and Senegal, focusing on reducing poverty and injustice, strengthening democratic values, and promoting human dignity.

“We have learned that West Africa holds the answers to its own challenges. By investing in hope, inclusion, and justice, we strengthen the foundation of democracy and prosperity for generations to come,”Aniagolu-Okoye added.