By Chibuike Nwabuko
ABUJA (Precise Post) – As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD), the Executive Secretary of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Dr. Tony Ojukwu has called for accelerated action to close the gender gap and promote the rights and empowerment of women across Nigeria.
Speaking at the commemorative event held at the Commission’s headquarters on Thursday in Abuja , Ojukwu highlighted this year’s theme, “Accelerate Action: For all Women and Girls, Rights, Equality, and Empowerment,” and called for a collective effort to fast-track the realization of gender parity, which, according to the World Economic Forum’s 2022 Global Gender Gap Report, may take an estimated 132 years.
In his address, the NHRC’s Scribe honored the historic 15,000 women who marched in New York City in 1908 advocating for better working conditions and women’s voting rights, stressing that their sacrifices continue to inspire the fight for gender equality today.
Despite government efforts to promote gender equality, the NHRC Executive Secretary acknowledged the persistent gap between policy and implementation, particularly in women’s political representation, which has been on the decline in recent elections. The 35% affirmative action for women remains a challenging goal, he said, but there have been positive steps taken, including initiatives like the ‘Trader Money’ program, which has supported female entrepreneurs, and the notable efforts of state governments like Kwara, which has appointed more women to key positions in governance.
He also highlighted the NHRC’s ongoing work to support women’s rights, including the establishment of State and FCT Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) panels and a yearly 16 Days of Activism campaign to combat gender violence. The NHRC has also launched media campaigns, such as the film “The Silent Prejudice“, to raise awareness about harmful practices like the Osu caste system.
The Executive Secretary urged lawmakers to prioritize the passage of outstanding gender laws and called on all stakeholders, including filmmakers, musicians, and religious and traditional leaders, to use their platforms to challenge stereotypes and promote equality. He emphasized that advocacy alone is not enough; actionable steps are necessary to create safe spaces for women and protect their rights.
The Senior Advocate of Nigeria further reaffirmed the NHRC’s commitment to promoting women’s rights and gender equality, urging all Nigerians to take proactive steps to dismantle the barriers to women’s progress. The Executive Secretary emphasized the need for strong policy advocacy and the domestication of the Maputo Protocol, which aims to establish a more equitable society for women.
The Executive Secretary also called for a renewed commitment to uplifting women’s voices, with the promise that today’s actions would shape a future where every woman, girl, mother, and leader in Nigeria could thrive.
In her goodwill message, the representative of Women in Mining said that the theme for this year’s celebration ia a call for action for every person in a position of authority.
According to her, “the time has come for us to move from talk talk to walking the talk- enough of semantics. Let’s accelerate action together, we have to enforce women”s right, equality and empowerment.”
The group commended Dr Ojukwu for promoting gender based initiation saying he stands out amongst the male conterparts in position of authority and reaffirmed her group’s commitment to breaking barriers, fostering integrity in leadership and strengthening the pillars of our society through the power of women. Stressing that future is not something we wait for but something we shape and we will do it together, she said.
