Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to Gender Equality at UN Commission on the Status of Women

Nigeria Reaffirms Commitment to Gender Equality at UN Commission on the Status of Women

Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing gender equality, women’s empowerment, and social protection as key drivers of inclusive development during the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.

The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, delivered Nigeria’s statement at the global gathering, highlighting the country’s renewed commitment to empowering women, strengthening families, and promoting social inclusion.

Speaking at the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, the minister said Nigeria aligns with the statement presented on behalf of the African Group while reaffirming its dedication to advancing gender equality as a cornerstone for equitable justice, rights protection, and sustainable development.

She disclosed that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared 2026 as Nigeria’s “Year of Families and Social Development” under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, describing the declaration as a strategic move to strengthen families, empower women, protect children, and build cohesive communities.

According to the minister, Nigeria’s social protection system has expanded significantly over the years, growing from fewer than one million households in 2015 to nearly 10 million households in 2026, with women accounting for more than 70 percent of primary beneficiaries.

She explained that the government is currently accelerating the implementation of the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions programme, known as RHSI-774, describing it as the largest locally driven investment for women’s empowerment in Nigeria’s history. The programme focuses on livelihood support, clean energy, access to finance, digital inclusion, and social protection.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim also announced the Women Digital Harmony Initiative, which includes the development of the “Happy Woman App,” a mobile platform designed to connect more than 20 million Nigerian women to information, mentorship opportunities, and economic resources.

On the issue of gender-based violence, the minister said Nigeria has strengthened institutional mechanisms through a comprehensive safeguard system, including the introduction of a National Electronic Dashboard to improve real-time coordination, monitoring, and accountability.

She added that the government is also expanding measures to address emerging cases of technology-facilitated gender-based violence while improving survivor support systems nationwide.

The minister noted that Nigeria is promoting the care economy as a pathway to gender equality by introducing policies that recognise and reduce unpaid care work while expanding childcare, eldercare, and social support services to support women and families.

She further highlighted key legal frameworks supporting gender equality in the country, including the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act and the Child Rights Act, as well as national policies guiding women’s economic empowerment and gender development.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim also revealed that Nigeria recently approved an affirmative procurement system aimed at increasing access to public contracts for women-owned and women-led businesses.

According to her, domestic budget allocations supporting women’s programmes have increased significantly, with greater emphasis on gender budgeting, gender finance, and inclusive financial practices.

While acknowledging that women’s political representation in Nigeria’s parliament remains below 10 percent, the minister described the proposed Reserved Special Seats Bill as a historic opportunity to strengthen women’s participation in elective governance.

She added that the government is also promoting positive masculinity through the development of a National Boy Child Policy, which is currently undergoing validation.

The minister further highlighted Nigeria’s global and local partnerships, including the Nigeria for Women Project supported by the World Bank, which targets about 4.5 million women beneficiaries through income generation initiatives and social norm reforms.

She concluded by reaffirming Nigeria’s commitment to collaborating with the international community to accelerate progress on gender equality, expand opportunities for women and girls, strengthen families, and harness innovation for inclusive development.