By Justina Auta
The National President, National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Mrs Edna Azura has called for intensified efforts toward achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls across the country.
Azura made the call at a symposium to commemorate the 2025 International Women’s Day (IWD) on Friday in Abuja.
International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated annually on March 8, and the 2025 celebration has the theme, “Accelerate Action.”
While urging stakeholders to dismantle systemic barriers preventing women’s advancement, Azura noted that this year’s theme was a call for all stakeholders to redouble efforts in bridging gender gaps and ensuring equal opportunities for women in all spheres of life.
“Today, we acknowledge the progress recorded in gender equality, yet we must recognise the gaps that persist between policy commitments and actual implementation.
“Nigeria has adopted various legal frameworks, national policies, and international obligations, including the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the African Union Agenda 2063, and the Maputo Protocol on Women’s Rights.
“However, challenges such as limited access to education, economic exclusion, the burden of caregiving, gender-based violence, and underrepresentation in leadership positions continue to hinder women’s empowerment,” she said.
The NCWS president, therefore, emphasised the need for a collaborative approach involving government, civil society, the private sector, and individuals to drive gender equality initiatives forward.
Speaking on the symposium’s sub-theme, “The Future is Now: Empowering Women and Youths to Thrive”, Azura stressed the importance of investing in education, skills development, and economic empowerment for women and youths.
She added that the council would provide financial support to selected women entrepreneurs to help scale up their small businesses.
The National Vice-President, Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) Zone D, Mrs Chizoba Ogbeche said the association initiated the “Her Seat in Parliament” campaign to increase women’s political representation in leadership and governance positions.
“We are hoping that this time, with more sensitisation and awareness creation, the legislators will know that their people are more aware and will ask them when they come for re-election why they did not support the seat.
“So, we are campaigning to make people understand that women are not trying to take over from the men.
“We are just saying, give us a place on the table. Let’s have more seats so that we can influence policies that affect us and other vulnerable groups.
“Even the 74 seats we are asking for is not enough, but it is a good starting point and we are hoping that with the support and responses we have been getting, it will translate to action when the voting processes start, that this time, it will scale through,” she said.
She noted that the over 1,000 per cent increase in women’s budget would address challenges affecting women and children, adding that the CSW69 was an opportunity for Nigeria to tell our stories and strive toward impactful gains.
The President of the Road Safety Officers’ Wives Association (ROSOWA), Dr Nafisa Shehu-Muhammed reiterated their support toward women empowerment and collaboration for sustained advocacy in achieving gender equality.
The high point of the event was the empowerment of selected petty traders across the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), as part of activities to mark International Women’s Day 2025.
