By Nafisat Makinde
Nigerian Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imman Suleiman Ibrahim, marked International Women’s Day with a call to action on Thursday, 6th March, 2025 in Abuja. The Minister emphasized the need to accelerate action towards gender equality in Nigeria, highlighting four key dimensions: legal and policy frameworks, economic empowerment, gender-based violence and social norms, and political representation and leadership.
This year’s theme, “Accelerate Action for All Women: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” was at the forefront of the Minister’s speech. “Accelerating action demands that we confront the harsh realities facing women and girls in Nigeria today,” the Minister stressed.
The Minister acknowledged progress in enacting gender-responsive laws, but noted that implementation remains a challenge. Only 35 states have domesticated the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP), and 34 states have adopted the Child Rights Act.
Women own 41% of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) but face barriers in accessing finance, markets, and digital literacy. The Minister emphasized the need to address gender-based violence, citing alarming statistics: 30% of Nigerian women aged 15-49 have experienced physical violence, and one in four girls has been sexually abused before age 18.
On political representation, the Minister noted that women hold only 4 out of 109 Senate seats and 17 out of 360 House of Representatives seats, with 15 states lacking female representation.
The Minister commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for significantly increasing the Ministry’s budget, signaling a new era of government commitment to women’s empowerment.
With these increased resources, the Ministry will prioritize initiatives such as:
- Resuscitating the National Electronic Dashboard to tackle gender-based violence
- Expanding programs on women’s economic empowerment
- Promoting digital skills acquisition for girls
- Scaling up family cohesion programs
- Revitalizing child protection and participation
- Unlocking new opportunities for women through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)
“We cannot talk about progress without acknowledging those who paved the way. As we mark this milestone, we must honor the fearless women who stood against oppression and injustice, from pre-independence trailblazers like Chief Margaret Ekpo, Chief (Mrs.) Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, and Hajiya Gambo Sawaba, to the thousands of women who laid down their lives in protests such as the Aba Women’s Riot of 1929 and the Egba Women’s Revolt of 1947.5. We also remember the legacies of Her Excellency Dr. Maryam Abacha, who led Nigeria’s delegation to the 1995 Beijing Conference, and Her Excellency Dr. (Mrs.) Maryam Babangida, whose Better Life Programme for Rural Women revolutionized grassroots empowerment. Their work reminds us that change is not given; it is demanded and earned through persistence and resilience.”
“…I am leading a diverse delegation of Nigerians to the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), the largest global gathering on women’s rights. Our goal is clear: to showcase Nigerian progress, forge stronger global partnerships, and amplify our collective efforts towards achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls.”
The Minister concluded by saying, “Your time is now. Stand up, step forward, and claim your place in shaping Nigeria’s future.”
I love what the mister is doing, but are we in fact ready for this change in Nigeria ?