The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPA), adopted on September 15, 1995, at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, remains a cornerstone in the global pursuit of gender equality and women’s empowerment. The document, signed by 189 governments, outlines critical commitments aimed at promoting women’s economic empowerment, eliminating violence against women, increasing female leadership, and protecting the rights of the girl child.
Nigeria, as a signatory to the BDPA, has continued to implement various policies, programs, and institutional mechanisms to uphold its commitments. Through initiatives such as the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Ministry of Women Affairs, the country has demonstrated its commitment to gender equality.
Additionally, Nigeria is required to submit regular progress reports to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), which monitors implementation and provides guidance on achieving BDPA objectives.
As the world marks 30 years since the adoption of the BDPA, Nigeria, alongside other nations, has presented its progress, challenges, and future strategies at the 69th CSW in New York. Experts and stakeholders acknowledge strides made in areas such as increased access to education for girls and efforts to enhance women’s participation in politics. However, challenges persist, including high levels of gender-based violence, restricted access to healthcare and economic opportunities, and ongoing discrimination.
During the 2025 International Women’s Day (IWD) celebration, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs, highlighted the ongoing struggles of Nigerian women and girls. She underscored the importance of gender-responsive policies such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) and the Child Rights Act, noting that while 35 states have domesticated the VAPP Act and 34 have adopted the Child Rights Act, full implementation remains a hurdle. The minister stressed the necessity of compliance, enforcement, and accountability to ensure these laws translate into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerian women and girls.
Acknowledging the crucial role of women in Nigeria’s informal economy, the minister pointed out that women own 41% of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Despite their contributions, barriers such as limited access to finance, markets, and digital literacy hinder their growth.
To address these issues, the government aims to support 4.5 million women nationwide and provide skills development for 500,000 women through the MOWA-SARA initiative, in collaboration with WEMA Bank.
Women’s political representation remains an area of concern, with only four female senators out of 109 and 17 women in the House of Representatives out of 360 members. Additionally, 15 states have no female representation at all. The minister described this stark imbalance as incompatible with a progressive democracy and called for accelerated efforts to ensure women have a stronger presence in governance and decision-making.
Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, commended the country’s progress in women’s political participation while acknowledging existing challenges. She emphasized that consultations were necessary to ensure Nigeria’s national report for CSW 69 accurately reflected the realities of women and girls across the country.
Similarly, Dr. Felicia Onibon, International Lead Consultant, presented Nigeria’s Draft BPfA+30 report, which assessed progress over the past 30 years, focusing particularly on the last five years (2020–2025). Onibon highlighted significant strides made under the Spotlight Initiative, including the development and strengthening of key gender-related laws.
Additionally, she noted that 99,985 girls and boys had been reached through in-school interventions, while 82,852 out-of-school youths had also benefited from outreach efforts. Community engagement against gender-based violence and harmful practices has also amplified the voices of over 16.7 million people.
Experts stress the need for stronger policies, increased funding, and enhanced advocacy to address persistent gender inequality issues. Dr. Joy Shu’aibu, Sightsavers Country Director, highlighted the importance of improving employment access for women, particularly those with disabilities, who face multiple barriers to financial independence. With an 8.4% gender gap in employment, she called on global leaders at CSW 69 to commit to disability-inclusive approaches, which could unlock billions in economic potential.
In line with efforts to boost women’s representation in governance, the League of Women Voters of Nigeria, in partnership with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), has launched the “Her Seat in Parliament and Governance” campaign.
This initiative seeks to increase women’s participation in decision-making at all levels of government. NAWOJ’s National President, Hajiya Aisha Ibrahim, emphasized the need for greater representation of women in the legislative system, while the association’s National Vice President, Chizoba Ogbeche, reinforced the campaign’s goal of influencing policies affecting women and other vulnerable groups.
Collaboration among key stakeholders is necesssary for advancing gender equality. Miss Grace Sim-Auta, Coordinator of the Gender Unit at Hope For Village Child Foundation, called for joint efforts between the Nigerian government, NGOs, civil society organizations, and the private sector to address the challenges facing women and girls. She emphasized the importance of access to education, economic opportunities, and leadership roles for women as fundamental to achieving gender equality.
As Nigeria celebrates International Women’s Day 2025, the need for sustained efforts in gender advocacy remains apparent. While progress has been made, significant work lies ahead. To ensure the full realization of women’s rights and empowerment, Nigeria must continue fostering an inclusive society that supports and values the contributions of all citizens, regardless of gender.
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