The Federal Government has officially flagged off the 2026 International Women’s Day (IWD) and Women’s Month activities while unveiling a wide range of transformative social impact programmes designed to empower women, strengthen families, and protect vulnerable populations across Nigeria.
Speaking at the high-level Ministerial press briefing and pre-departure engagement for Nigeria’s delegation to the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim fsi, emphasized that the commemoration of International Women’s Day this year goes beyond ceremony and represents a national commitment to measurable progress for women and families.
According to the Minister, “Nations rise when vision meets action, when leadership chooses discipline over delay, and when policy translates into protection and opportunity. Today, Nigeria stands at such a pivotal moment where intention, preparation, and structure are aligning to advance the rights, dignity, and opportunities of women, families, and vulnerable groups.”
She noted that the 2026 commemoration, with the theme “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls,” with the campaign slogan “Give to Gain,” underscores the urgent need to institutionalize equality, enforce justice, and deliver tangible outcomes for women and girls across the country.
The Minister reaffirmed the commitment of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration to strengthening social protection and advancing inclusive development through the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs will not relent in its pursuit of a Nigeria where every family is stable and economically secure, every woman and girl is empowered to realise her full potential, and every child is protected and nurtured to thrive,” she stated.
Highlighting recent progress in social protection by the Ministry, the Minister disclosed that Nigeria has expanded its safety net interventions significantly over the past decade.
“In 2015, fewer than one million households were enrolled in any formal social protection programme. By 2026, national social safety net interventions have reached over 9.4 million households, with women constituting more than 70 percent of primary beneficiaries,” she explained.
She further commended President Tinubu for declaring 2026 as the Year of Families and Social Development, describing the decision as a strategic national direction that places families, women, and children at the centre of Nigeria’s development agenda.
The Minister also highlighted a series of major national initiatives under the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions 774, describing them as the largest pragmatic investment in women’s empowerment in Nigeria’s history. These include the EmpowerHer774 Programme, the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up, the Women Agro-Value Expansion and Farm-to-Feed Initiative, Others are the PowerHer774 and Women in Gas programmes, the Women-on-Wheels Initiative, the Women-Led MSME Expansion and Access to Finance Programme, as well as the Family First Project and Care Economy reforms.
She explained that the programmes will expand access to livelihood opportunities, digital inclusion, finance, clean energy, and enterprise development for women across all 774 Local Government Areas of the country.
The Minister also revealed that the Federal Government is accelerating efforts to address gender-based violence through expanded Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARC) nationwide.
“Nigeria currently operates about 50 Sexual Assault Referral Centres across the country. While this marks progress, it remains insufficient for a population exceeding 200 million. Expanding access to survivor-centred services and strengthening prevention systems therefore remains an urgent priority,” she said.
On Nigeria’s participation at the upcoming CSW70 in New York, the Minister stated that the country will lead a broad national delegation aimed at strengthening Africa’s voice in shaping global gender equality frameworks.
“Nigeria will continue to advocate for stronger global commitments that advance gender equality, reduce poverty, and unlock the economic potential of women across Africa,” she added.
In his goodwill message, the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to inclusive economic growth and social protection.
“A resilient and prosperous economy cannot be built without empowering women, strengthening families, and safeguarding the wellbeing of the most vulnerable members of society,” he stated.
He explained that the economic management team views social investment as a strategic driver of economic development.
“When women are empowered, when children are protected, and when families are supported, productivity increases, communities thrive, and nations grow stronger,” Edun noted, adding that direct benefit transfers have already reached nine million households, with a target of 15 million households nationwide.
Also speaking, the Honourable Minister of State for Education, Professor Suwaiba Said Ahmad, praised President Tinubu’s commitment to advancing women’s empowerment and social development.
According to her, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has Nigerian women at heart, and the declaration of 2026 as the Year of Social Development further demonstrates his commitment to supporting women and strengthening families.”
She also commended the leadership strength of the Minister of Women Affairs, noting her strong dedication to women’s empowerment initiatives.
“She consistently emphasizes that when you invest in women, you invest in the nation,” the Education Minister said.
The Honourable Minister of State for Labour and Employment, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha, advocated for stronger political representation for women, highlighting the importance of the Reserved Special Seats Bill.
She stressed that Nigerian women possess the capacity to excel in leadership and governance.
“If women can persist through the challenges of politics multiple times, then Nigerian women can achieve even greater representation and leadership,” she stated.
Delivering remarks on behalf of development partners, Beatrice Eyong, Representative of UN Women in Nigeria, emphasized that empowering women is both a human rights obligation and an economic imperative.
“Empowering women is not charity; it is a smart economic strategy. When women earn income, families become stronger, communities improve, and national economies grow,” she said.
Eyong added that UN Women continue to support Nigeria in key priority areas including women’s leadership and decision-making, economic empowerment, gender-based violence prevention, and women’s role in peace and security.
She noted that meaningful peace processes require the participation of women.
“Any peace process that does not involve women cannot last long. When women are part of peace building mechanisms, peace becomes more sustainable,” she stressed.
Also speaking, Ambassador Gautier Mignot, Head of the European Union Delegation to Nigeria, underscored the importance of gender equality for societal prosperity.
According to him, “International Women’s Day is not only about women and girls; it benefits the entire society, including men and boys. A society that utilizes the full energy and potential of women and girls becomes more prosperous and more efficient.”
Ahmed Lawan Danbazau Mnipr
Head, Press and Public Relations, FMWASD
