Background: NCWS was founded in 1958 with the aim of bringing into being a federation of non-political women's organizations and assisting women in towns and villages in their roles as homemakers and nation builders. Member organizations initiate their own programs at local or national levels. The Council provides services, advice, and direction.



Objectives: The objectives of the Council are: to promote the welfare, economic and social progress of women, with special emphasis on education and training; to awaken and encourage in women the realisation of their responsibilities to the community; to ensure by every legal means that women are given opportunities to act as full responsible members of the community; to encourage the affiliation of all non-political women's organizations in Nigeria; and to foster cooperation with other national and international bodies with similar aims.



Activities: To achieve these objectives the Council: provides a platform for the formulation and dissemination of women's opinions and ideas; deals with requests and petitions from member organizations for social reform by making representations to government or other appropriate bodies; attends and holds conferences; publishes a newsletter and other publications; and holds a biennial convention. The Council's programs have included: leadership training; training in civic responsibilities; educational programs on health and hygiene; adult education and vocational training; family planning, guidance and counselling; establishment of day nurseries for the children of market traders, and training centres for nursery/day care centre staff; programs to combat drug trafficking and abuse; promotion of women's handicrafts, community and rural development; promotion of cooperatives; and establishment of NCWS/SOS children's village homes and an orphanage.