The Federal Government says Nigeria will lead efforts to strengthen Africa’s voice on gender equality and women’s rights at the upcoming 70th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women.

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, disclosed this on Friday in Abuja during a press briefing held ahead of Nigeria’s departure for the global CSW70 meeting.

Ms Sulaiman-Ibrahim said the ministry would coordinate and lead a broad and inclusive national delegation to the meeting in collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigeria’s Mission to the United Nations.

According to her, Nigeria’s participation at the session will focus on advancing national priorities on gender equality, women’s empowerment and poverty reduction while strengthening global partnerships that support women’s development and protection.

The minister said the engagement would also position Nigeria to speak on behalf of the African States Group and strengthened Africa’s collective voice in shaping global norms on women’s rights.

She stated, “The ministry will coordinate and lead a broad and inclusive national delegation to this important session, working with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Nigeria’s UN Mission to advance priorities.

“The engagement will also position Nigeria to speak on behalf of the African States Group and strengthen Africa’s collective voice in shaping global norms on women’s rights.”

She noted that Nigeria’s leadership role at the forum reflected the country’s growing commitment to promoting gender equality through policy reforms and institutional frameworks implemented across the federation.

She cited implementation of the National Gender Policy, the National Women’s Economic Empowerment Policy, and legislations including the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act and Child Rights Act as key protections.

The minister added that all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory had enacted the VAPP Act or equivalent legislation, achieving nationwide coverage following sustained advocacy by government institutions.

She said the government had also introduced several initiatives aimed at strengthening women’s economic empowerment and expanding social protection opportunities across communities nationwide through targeted development programmes and interventions.

According to her, these include the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions targeting women across the 774 Local Government Areas and programmes expanding access to finance, digital inclusion and clean energy.

She said Nigeria had made significant progress expanding social protection programmes, with national social safety net interventions reaching more than 9.4 million households, over 70 per cent of beneficiaries women.

However, the minister acknowledged that challenges remained, particularly in addressing gender-based violence and improving women’s representation in elective positions across the country’s political and governance systems.

She said Nigeria currently operated about 50 Sexual Assault Referral Centres nationwide, noting that more facilities were required to adequately provide survivor-centred services and support victims of gender-based violence.

She stated, “By international benchmarks, Nigeria requires a minimum of one SARC per 400,000 people, translating to a need for at least 500 centres nationwide.

“Expanding access to survivor-centred services and strengthening prevention and response systems therefore remain urgent priorities this administration is committed to addressing.”

She emphasised that expanding survivor-centred services and strengthening prevention and response systems remained priorities of the Federal Government in addressing gender-based violence and protecting vulnerable women and girls.

The minister also stressed the need to build stronger pipelines of women leaders through mentorship, training and institutional support to enhance women’s participation in governance and decision-making processes.

She said the 2026 International Women’s Day theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls,” highlighted the urgency of concrete actions to advance gender equality globally.

The minister added, “As we commence the activities marking International Women’s Day and Women’s Month, let us recommit to action, unity and discipline.

“May Nigeria continue to rise with her women, and may the work we advance here produce tangible outcomes for every Nigerian woman, child and family.”

She added that Nigeria’s engagement at CSW70 would provide an opportunity to showcase ongoing reforms and strengthened partnerships aimed at improving the lives of women and girls across Africa.

Also speaking, Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, emphasised the need to renew collective resolve to advance rights and take bold action.

She stated, “When women are empowered and children are protected, and families are supported, productivity increases, communities thrive and the nation grows stronger.”

Similarly, Mandate Secretary of the FCT Women Affairs Secretariat, Dr Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, said the administration was driving initiatives to end gender-based violence and promote women’s participation.

Also, UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Beatrice Eyong, reaffirmed commitment to promoting gender equality, women’s empowerment and increased female participation in governance across Nigeria.

(NAN)