The National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) Nigeria has advocated meaningful collaboration among the stakeholders as critical to the implementation of the three key objectives outlined in the World Bank Group Strategy for 2024-2030.
These objectives aim to accelerate gender equality for a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive future.
National President of NCWS, Princess Edna D.D. Azura, made the call on Friday in Abuja during a symposium organised by the council to mark International Women’s Day (IWD) with the global theme, “Accelerate Action,” focused on empowering women and highlighted the need for ongoing advocacy for gender equality.
The event brought together women leaders, activists, and policymakers to reflect on progress made towards gender equality and reaffirm their commitment to further action.
Princess Azura stressed the importance of ensuring foundational well-being by ending gender-based violence and improving human capital.
She also called for expanding economic opportunities by increasing access to better jobs, assets, and services, such as care and digital education.
Furthermore, she emphasised the importance of engaging more women in leadership roles for a sustainable, resilient, and inclusive future.
“While we have made significant progress, we must remain committed to continuing the fight for gender equality,” Princess Azura said.
“There is still a considerable gap between policy commitments and actual implementation, and significant challenges remain.”
Princess Azura further highlighted Nigeria’s participation in international frameworks such as the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the African Union Agenda 2063, and the Maputo Protocol on Women’s Rights.
However, she pointed out that these legal frameworks and policies have not been fully realised on the ground, with barriers such as limited access to education, economic opportunities, gender-based violence, and under-representation in leadership positions.
“Despite these challenges, we must accelerate action to achieve gender equality,” she urged.
“This requires collective efforts from the government, civil society, the private sector, and individuals.”
She also acknowledged the empowering initiatives led by Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, through the Renewed Hope initiative.
These programs, including agricultural support, ICT training, and menstrual hygiene programs, have made significant strides in supporting women and girls across the country.
The distribution of 370,000 cartons of sanitary towels and the First Lady’s donation of a bus to the NCWS were also commended for enhancing the mobility and outreach of the council.
The National President also expressed gratitude to the Minister of Women Affairs, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, for her unwavering support of the NCWS’s initiatives.
In her remarks, the National Vice President of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Zone D, Chizoba Ogbeche, stressed the importance of women’s participation in politics.
She highlighted the “Her Seat in Parliament and Governance” campaign, which seeks to increase the number of women in Nigeria’s legislative bodies.
She emphasised the campaign’s aim to secure 74 seats in the National Assembly for women.
“We are campaigning to ensure women have a place at the table to influence policies that affect us and other vulnerable groups,” Ogbeche said,
Similarly, the President/Founder of the Initiative for Women’s Accelerated Development in Africa (INWOAD), Evelyn Onyilo, noted the need for continued advocacy against violence and discrimination towards women.
She lamented the slow progress in areas like political representation and access to opportunities.
“The place of a woman in society is still fraught with discrimination and exclusion from governance,” she stated.
Christie Pawa, a member of the NCWS and President of LAKA, stressed the need for women to support each other and take ownership of their empowerment.
“International Women’s Day is vital because it allows us to recognize ourselves as women, to make ourselves important, empower ourselves, and support one another,” Pawa said.
She also expressed concern about the decline in the number of women in the National Assembly, calling for collective action to reverse this trend.
The symposium concluded with the reaffirmation of NCWS’s commitment to removing barriers to gender equality and empowering women and girls across Nigeria.
Princess Azura closed the event by thanking the Coalition of Societies for the Rights of Older Persons in Nigeria (COSROPIN) for their support in celebrating Nigerian women.
She urged all stakeholders to join the NCWS in strengthening rights, equality, and empowerment for women and girls, reinforcing the need for a collective effort to build a better future for all.
“Together, we will take decisive action to remove barriers for women and girls,” Princess Azura declared. “Let’s continue to accelerate action towards achieving gender equality,” she stated.