UN Women Praises Nigeria for Advancements in Gender Equality Initiatives

Ahead of International Women’s Day 2025, UN Women commended Nigeria for progress in implementing the Beijing Platform for Action, focusing on women’s empowerment. The UK supports special legislative seats for women, while UBA launches initiatives for financial inclusion. Stakeholders emphasize the importance of advocating for women and vulnerable citizens in politics.

In anticipation of International Women’s Day on March 8, 2025, UN Women lauded Nigeria for its advances in implementing the Beijing Platform for Action. This includes improvements in women’s political engagement, economic empowerment, education, and efforts to combat gender-based violence. Ms. Beatrice Eyong, UN Women’s Country Representative for Nigeria and ECOWAS, made the remarks during a consultation concerning Nigeria’s Beijing+30 Report in Abuja.

Concurrent with these developments, the United Kingdom Branch of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association has expressed support for legislation aimed at reserving special seats for women in Nigeria’s National and State Assemblies. This advocacy coincides with the ongoing constitutional review process within the National Assembly, which is now at an advanced stage.

Meanwhile, the United Bank for Africa (UBA) has announced a series of initiatives for March to mark International Women’s Day. These programs underscore UBA’s commitment to promoting gender equality and enhancing financial empowerment for women across the African continent.

A gathering of stakeholders in Abuja on the inclusion of vulnerable groups, specifically women, children, and persons with disabilities (PWD), was convened. The second annual conference of State Ministries of Women Affairs, backed by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (ROLAC) Programme, focused on strategies to increase advocacy and elevate the status of these marginalized citizens.

The Balm in Gilead Foundation for Sustainable Development highlighted the importance of increasing women’s participation in politics. In a dialogue focusing on gender quotas and women’s political engagement in Ado Ekiti, BIGIF noted the low representation of women despite their significant numbers in the population.

Despite progress, Ms. Beatrice Eyong emphasized that Nigeria still faces obstacles that must be addressed collectively to foster sustainable change. She stated, “This consultation is crucial for ensuring Nigeria’s national report for CSW69 is inclusive and considers diverse perspectives.”

According to Eyong, the consultation serves as a follow-up to the preliminary report drafted in November 2024, providing a platform for enriching the document through inclusive approaches. She acknowledged that the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action continues to be instrumental for global gender equality efforts, identifying urgent areas needing attention, such as education for women, health issues, and violence against women.

Representing the Ministry of Women Affairs, Mrs. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim highlighted the necessity of acknowledging progress made while examining challenges and identifying best practices in promoting women’s economic empowerment. She articulated the importance of this strategic review in tracking Nigeria’s progress towards implementing the Beijing Platform for Action.

Members of the UK Parliament expressed their support for women’s representation legislation during a visit to the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio. They urged a swift consideration of the proposed bill to establish reserved seats for women, which aims to amend the Nigerian Constitution to create new legislative seats both nationally and at the state level.

Through its initiatives for International Women’s Day, UBA aims to enhance financial inclusion for women by offering tailored financial solutions, educational resources, and support programs. CEO Oliver Alawuba emphasized UBA’s commitment to empowering women and providing opportunities for their growth in business and finance.

Mr. Nelson Akerele from BIGIF invited stakeholders to push for greater involvement of women in political decision-making. The dialogue underscored the need for political parties to allocate a percentage of their positions to women, ensuring they can effectively contribute to the country’s growth.

The Minister of Women Affairs underscored the theme “accelerate action” as vital for addressing gender equality challenges effectively. She called for critical evaluation and transparency in policy interventions, emphasizing that improvements should be tracked at the sub-national level to ensure tangible impacts on women’s empowerment throughout Nigeria.

In conclusion, Nigeria is making notable strides towards gender equality as recognized by UN Women, particularly in women’s political participation and economic empowerment. Various stakeholders, including the UK Parliament and UBA, are advocating for measures to enhance women’s representation and financial independence. However, significant challenges remain, necessitating collective action to continue advancing gender equality and the empowerment of marginalized groups throughout the country.

Original Source: www.thisdaylive.com