Who was instrumental in enabling women's admission into the sangha?

Ananda

In time, a community of the Buddha's followers emerged, and he established a sangha, an assembly of monks who assumed roles as teachers of dhamma. These monks embraced a simple way of life, possessing only essential necessities for survival, such as a bowl to receive daily food offerings from the laity. Relying on alms for sustenance, they came to be known as bhikkhus.

Initially, the sangha comprised only men, but eventually, the admission of women followed. According to Buddhist scriptures, Ananda, a close disciple of the Buddha, played a crucial role in facilitating this change, persuading the Buddha to admit women into the sangha. Mahapajapati Gotami, the Buddha's foster mother, held the distinction of being the first woman to receive ordination as a bhikkhuni. Many women who joined the sangha not only became teachers of dhamma but also progressed to become theris, esteemed women who achieved liberation.