By Uche Onyeali
National president of the National Council of Women Societies, NCWS, Princess Edna Azura has decried what she described as persistent gaps in implementation of of national and international policies and legal frameworks to ensure equality and protect the rights of women in Nigeria.
Princess Azura made the assertion yesterday in her welcome address at a symposium to commemorate this year’s International Women’s Day, IWD, in Abuja.
Noting that the 2025 IWD, themed ‘Accelerate Action,’ was set aside to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women, she however observed that it was a call to action for all stakeholders to intensify efforts towards achieving gender equality and empowering women and girls.
“As we gather today, we must remind ourselves of the significant progress made towards gender equality in Nigeria.
“However, despite the legal frameworks, national policies, and international obligations that Nigeria has subscribed to, including the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, the African Union Agenda 2063, and the Maputo Protocol on Women’s Rights, the gap between policy commitments and actual implementation remains significant.
She also decried some still existing factors in the country that hinder the Nigerian women from reaching their goal as equal leaders, just as she proffered some measures to address the anomaly.
“I am also aware of the numerous challenges that still hinder women’s empowerment and participation in all spheres of life. These challenges include limited access to education and economic opportunities; disproportionate burden of caregiving responsibilities; increased vulnerability to gender-based violence and under-representation in leadership positions.
“To address these challenges, we must accelerate action towards achieving gender equality.
“This requires a collective effort from all stakeholders, including government, civil society, private sector, and individuals,” Azura said.
Drawing inference from the subtheme of the event, ‘The Future is Now: Empowering Women and Youths to Thrive,’ the NCWS leader urged Nigerian women to support one another while the council scales it empowerment initiatives for the women folk and the girl-child.
“As women, we must take ownership of our empowerment and development. We must support one another, amplify each other’s voices, and demand equal opportunities and treatment.
“The sub-theme of our symposium today, ‘The Future is Now: Empowering Women and Youths to Thrive,’ emphasises the importance of empowering women and youths to take control of their futures. We must invest in the education, skills development, and economic empowerment of women and youths to ensure that they are equipped to thrive in an increasingly complex and competitive world.
“It is on the above premises that the Council has decided to empower few women by providing them with little financial support to scale up their existing small businesses and I urge all of us here present to patronise them today,” added.
She appreciated first lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, who is the grand patron of the council, for her empowerment interventions through her Renewed Hope initiative.
Azura noted that such initiative had been a beacon of hope, especially with her Agricultural Support Programmes like ‘Every Woman a Garden,’ ICT trainings, support for Persons with Disabilities, environmental conservation and the launch of an initiative to distribute 370,000 cartons of sanitary towels to young girls across the country, among others.
She also extended her appreciation to the Minister of Women Affairs, Honey
Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, for NCWS in her activities, as well as her commitment to empowering women and promoting their socio-economic development is truly commendable.
Meanwhile, Senator Tinubu presented two ML 350 4MATIC Jeepto the national president and first vice president of NCWS in celebration of the International Women’s Day.
The first lady had also last week presented a Jet Bus to the NCWS.
