Abuja: The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BDPA), adopted on September 15, 1995, at the Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, continues to be a pivotal framework aimed at advancing gender equality and empowering women globally. Key areas of focus for the BDPA include promoting women’s economic empowerment, eliminating violence against women, increasing female leadership, and protecting the rights of the girl child. The declaration places emphasis on strengthening institutions that promote gender equality, with the ultimate goal of creating a more inclusive and just society. Countries, including Nigeria, are expected to implement and follow up on these commitments to achieve the outlined objectives.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW) is responsible for monitoring progress and providing guidance on the implementation of the BDPA. Signed by 189 governments, Nigeria is a signatory to the BDPA and has committed to implementing its provisions. Through various policies, programmes, and institutional mechanisms such as the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP) and the Ministry of Women Affairs, Nigeria has demonstrated its commitment to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment. As part of this commitment, Nigeria is also required to submit regular reports to the United Nations CSW on its progress in implementing the BDPA.
Thirty years after the adoption of the BDPA, Nigeria, along with other countries, presented its achievements, challenges, and proposed actions to accelerate implementation at the 69th CSW in New York. Experts and relevant stakeholders have recognised Nigeria’s progress in certain areas, such as increasing access to education for girls and promoting women’s participation in politics. However, they have also pointed out that Nigeria still faces significant challenges, including high levels of violence against women, limited access to healthcare and economic opportunities, and persistent gender-based discrimination.
Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs, highlighted these issues while marking the 2025 International Women’s Day (IWD). She emphasized the importance of IWD as a critical moment to propel gender equality into tangible progress and to rally for bold action to break barriers, close gaps, and empower Nigerian women and girls. Although Nigeria has made significant progress in enacting gender-responsive laws such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) and the Child Rights Act, full implementation remains a challenge. As of today, 35 states have domesticated the VAPP Act, while 34 states have adopted the Child Rights Act. To ensure that the rights enshrined in these laws become a lived reality for every Nigerian woman and girl, full compliance, effective enforcement, and accountability are necessary.
The minister also acknowledged that women drive Nigeria’s informal economy, owning 41% of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). However, barriers such as limited access to finance, markets, and digital literacy hinder their ability to scale their businesses. To address this, she mentioned that 4.5 million women nationwide will be supported to bridge this gap, while 500,000 women will benefit from skills development under the MOWA-SARA initiative, supported by WEMA Bank.
Regarding women’s political representation and leadership, the minister noted that in the 10th National Assembly, only four out of 109 Senators and 17 out of 360 House of Representatives members are women, with 15 states lacking any female representation. She stressed the need for accelerated efforts toward political inclusion, ensuring that women have a seat at the table in governance and development.
Mrs Beatrice Eyong, UNWomen Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, noted Nigeria’s progress, particularly in women’s political participation over the past three decades. She commended the increasing confidence of political parties in including women on electoral lists, while also acknowledging the emerging challenges that require collective action for transformative change. She emphasized that the consultation was vital for ensuring that Nigeria’s national report for CSW 69 reflected the realities of women and girls across the country.
Similarly, Dr Felicia Onibon, International Lead Consultant, presented Nigeria’s Draft BPfA+30, which showed progress in implementing the BPfA over the past 30 years, particularly focusing on the last five years (2020-2025). Onibon highlighted significant strides, including the development of two laws and the strengthening of two others under the Spotlight Initiative in Nigeria. She also noted that 99,985 girls and boys had been reached through in-school interventions, with additional outreach to 82,852 out-of-school youths. Furthermore, 16,725,584 voices were amplified in communities against gender-based violence (GBV) and harmful practices.
Dr Joy Shu’aibu, Sightsavers Country Director, called for urgent action to improve women’s access to employment, particularly for those with disabilities who face multiple barriers to financial independence. She highlighted that in Nigeria, the gender gap in employment is 8.4%, with a lack of access to resources and workplace barriers continuing to exclude millions of women, particularly those with disabilities, from economic opportunities. She urged global leaders attending the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) to commit to disability-inclusive approaches to unlock billions in economic potential. These efforts would contribute to advancing gender equality, ensuring that the rights and opportunities for all women, including those with disabilities, are fully realized.
In collaboration with the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), the League of Women Voters of Nigeria initiated the ‘Her Seat in Parliament and Governance’ campaign to increase women’s participation in governance and decision-making across Nigeria. Hajiya Aisha Ibrahim, NAWOJ National President, emphasized that women in Nigeria have long been underrepresented in the legislative system. Miss Grace Sim-Auta, Coordinator of the Gender Unit at Hope For Village Child Foundation, called for collaboration among key stakeholders in Nigeria, stressing the importance of promoting access to education, economic opportunities, and the representation of women in leadership positions.
As Nigeria celebrates International Women’s Day 2025, it is evident that while progress has been made, significant challenges remain. To achieve true gender equality and empowerment for women and girls, Nigeria must continue working towards creating a society that values and supports the contributions of all its citizens, regardless of gender.