By Joke Kujenya
DESPITE LIVING longer than men, women across the globe continue to struggle with access to essential healthcare services.
Deep-seated gender and age discrimination, economic barriers, and cultural norms contribute to a widening health gap that leaves millions of women vulnerable.
As the world marks International Women’s Day (IWD) March 8, 2025, the global focus is on accelerating action towards gender equality, with urgent calls for increased investment in healthcare, economic empowerment, and legal protections for women.
This year’s theme, “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” reinforces the need for global collaboration to break barriers and build a more equitable future.
The anniversary also coincides with the 30th year of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, a landmark blueprint for women’s rights that remains highly relevant today.
UNDP, UN Women, EU, and Diplomatic Partners Host Nigeria’s First IWD Awards Gala to Promote Women’s Empowerment
To mark the IWD and advocate for greater political and socio-economic empowerment for women in Nigeria, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), UN Women, the European Union (EU), the British High Commission, and the Embassies of the United States, Germany, and France co-hosted Nigeria’s inaugural Int’l Women’s Day Awards Gala in Lagos.
The event honoured individuals and organizations from various sectors for their contributions to advancing women’s rights and inclusion.
Addressing gender imbalance in Nigeria’s political leadership remains crucial to ensuring equal opportunities for both men and women in decision-making processes.
The gala served as a platform to encourage political leaders to create more space for women in governance and to publicly recognize champions of women’s empowerment across multiple sectors.
The awards covered seven categories, including Political Leadership and Governance, Private Sector, Media and Entertainment, Arts and Culture, Civil Society, Outstanding Female, and the feature award, Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow.
Nominees and winners were selected by the IWD Gala Board, comprising representatives from development partners, the UN, and Nigeria’s Federal House of Representatives.
Guests included H.E. British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms. Catriona Laing; German Ambassador, Ms. Brigitt Ory; U.S. Ambassador, Ms. Mary Beth Leonard; French Ambassador, Ms. Emanuelle Blatmann; EU Ambassador to Nigeria & ECOWAS, Ms. Samuela Isopi; UN Women Country Director, Ms. Comfort Lamptey; and UNDP Nigeria Resident Representative, Mr. Mohamed Yahya.
With Nigerian women holding senior positions in the United Nations and other multilateral organizations, as well as serving as ambassadors for key nations—including the UK, U.S., EU, Germany, and several others — the IWD Gala leveraged this representation to inspire leaders across sectors to drive gender equality.
Given that women make up over 49% of Nigeria’s population, ensuring their proportional representation in politics is vital, the UN Women stressed.
It also adds that achieving this requires concrete measures to guarantee equal participation at all levels of political decision-making.
Health Inequalities Persist Despite Progress
Across the world, women face unique health challenges, particularly in later life.
Studies show they are more likely to be caregivers, suffer from chronic illnesses, and experience functional decline, yet they receive disproportionately less medical attention compared to men.
The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that nearly 40% of women globally have experienced physical or sexual violence, a factor that significantly impacts mental health and overall well-being.
In rural and low-income communities, the situation is even more dire.
Women struggle with limited access to healthcare facilities, insufficient medical infrastructure, and financial restrictions that prevent them from seeking proper treatment.
WHO says its ‘4P’ approach—Promote, Provide, Protect, and Power & Perform—aims to bridge these gaps by prioritising investment in gender-responsive public health policies.
Nigeria’s Push for Gender Equality Gains Momentum
Calls for women’s empowerment and equal rights have taken centre stage in Nigeria. ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has urged the government at all levels to implement policies that create lasting change for women and girls.
Andrew Mamedu, AAN Country Director, stressed that prioritising women’s rights is not just a moral duty but an economic necessity.
He highlighted the need for gender-responsive public services, increased investment in financial inclusion, land ownership, and access to decent work opportunities.
Action Aid reiterates that the struggle for representation remains a challenge in governance, corporate leadership, and civil society.
Women who challenge male-dominated spaces often face intimidation, harassment, and systemic exclusion.
Mamedu cited recent incidents, including Mojisola Meranda’s resignation from the Lagos House of Assembly and Senator Natasha Akpoti’s allegations of sexual harassment, as evidence of the barriers that still exist.
Lagos State Government Commits to Women’s Empowerment
Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State reiterated his administration’s dedication to gender equity during the state’s IWD 2025 celebrations at the Mobolaji Johnson Arena.
He pledged to continue implementing policies that empower women and ensure their voices are heard.
“Our commitment to fostering inclusiveness and achieving gender equality is unwavering. We must move beyond rhetoric and take decisive steps toward empowering women,” he stated.
The Lagos State government has introduced multiple initiatives aimed at leadership development, economic participation, and financial empowerment for women.
Media Organisations and Civil Society Amplify the Movement
The role of the media in advancing gender equality remains critical.
Women in Media (Woman N’ Media), an association of Nigerian female media professionals, has announced its annual International Women’s Day Conference and Awards 2025 to honour outstanding women achievers.
The event, themed “Accelerated Action,” takes place today 8 March at the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
Dr. Princess Lilian Williams, Chairperson of the association, emphasised that hardworking women embody empowerment and resilience, balancing personal and professional responsibilities while driving societal progress.
“Their dedication inspires future generations and fosters a culture of ambition and determination,” she said.
Battle Against Online Misogyny and Gender-Based Violence
As digital platforms become more integral to daily life, online misogyny and tech-facilitated gender-based violence (TFGBV) continue to rise.
Journalists for Christ (JFC) International Outreach has sounded the alarm on the growing digital abuse faced by women.
The organisation notes that their research, conducted in partnership with the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) and Bread for the World, highlights the psychological distress, weakened confidence, and public exclusion that many women experience due to online harassment.
● JFC affirms that it is therefore strongly calling for urgent action to combat TFGBV, including:
● Strengthening policies and legal frameworks to protect women online.
● Engaging community and religious leaders to challenge harmful stereotypes.
● Promoting digital literacy and gender equality education in schools.
● Encouraging responsible online behaviour to foster respectful digital spaces.
● IWD 2025: Declare Femicide a National Emergency, CSOs Tell Tinubu
Other civil society organisations have called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to immediately declare the widespread violence against women and the escalating femicide crisis in Nigeria “a national emergency and threat to national security.”
Speaking on IWD 2025, they condemned the growing trend of femicide and gender-based violence, highlighting the urgent need for stronger legal protections, social interventions, and enforcement of existing laws such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015.
Ngozi-Juba Nwosu, Executive Director of VisionSpring Initiatives, stressed that women in Nigeria continue to face violence in multiple forms, including intimate partner violence, ritual killings, and systemic misogyny that normalises these crimes.
“Women are the backbone of our society. When they are under attack, the entire nation suffers,” she added.
Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s Suspension Sparks Outrage
The CSOs also criticised the controversial suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, calling it “mischievous and politically motivated.”
They described the move as a deliberate effort to silence women in leadership and a stark reminder of the systemic hurdles that female politicians face in Nigeria.
“Rather than standing for justice, the Senate’s response to her allegations reinforces a political culture that devalues women’s voices and dismisses their struggles,” said Betty Abah, Executive Director of Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEE-HOPE).
Empowering Women in Business: Nestlé’s Business of Food Initiative
Nestlé Professional, an arm of Nestlé Nigeria, marked IWD 2025 by hosting the 10th edition of its Business of Food workshop in Benin.
This initiative has trained over 2,000 female entrepreneurs, equipping them with skills in culinary techniques, menu development, and customer engagement to build sustainable businesses.
“Our goal is to create economic opportunities for women and support them in achieving financial independence,” said Funmi Osineye, Business Manager for Nestlé Professional in Nigeria.
Collectively, the group calls for immediate action stressing that from gender-based violence to economic barriers, the challenges faced by women in Nigeria remain significant.
They noted also that the collective voices demanding change are growing louder to highlight the urgent need for action and that call is clear: Invest in women, enforce existing protections, and dismantle the structures that sustain gender inequality. Only then can true progress be achieved.
