Nigeria says it is scaling up policies and programmes aimed at improving the lives of women and girls, including digital platforms expected to reach more than 20 million women.

The announcement was made by Imaan Sulaiman‑Ibrahim during a statement delivered at the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women at the United Nations headquarters in New York.

She said the country was accelerating the implementation of the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions 774 programme, describing it as one of the largest locally driven investments for women in Nigeria’s history.

“We are now accelerating the delivery of our flagship programme, the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions 774,” she said.

“It is a collection of interventions that represents the largest locally driven investment for women’s empowerment in Nigeria’s history, cutting across livelihood support, clean energy, finance, digital inclusion, and social protection.”

Why it matters

Gender equality remains a major development challenge in Nigeria.

Although women play significant roles in the economy, their political representation remains low and access to financial resources and technology is still uneven.

The minister said Nigeria was using technology to close that gap through the Happy Woman App, a mobile platform designed to provide women with access to information, mentorship and economic opportunities.

“Through our women digital harmony initiative, we are leveraging technology and innovation,” she said.

“One component is the Happy Woman App, a mobile platform that serves as a one-stop shop that aggregates interventions and support for women.”

“This initiative will enable access that connects over 20 million women to information, mentorship, and economic opportunities while strengthening networks of support and inclusion.

Government policies and legal reforms

The Nigerian government says its efforts are backed by stronger legal frameworks and policy reforms.

According to the minister, laws such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act and the Child Rights Act remain key tools for protecting women and children.

She also pointed to new policies aimed at increasing women’s participation in public procurement and economic decision-making.

“With the recently approved affirmative procurement system, Nigeria has adopted an advanced procurement approach aimed at expanding access for women-owned and women-led businesses to public contracts,” she said.

“This unlocks significant market opportunities within Nigeria’s public procurement system.”

Tackling gender-based violence

The minister also highlighted efforts to address gender-based violence, including new digital monitoring systems designed to improve coordination between agencies.

“Nigeria continues to deepen institutional responses to gender-based violence through a holistic safeguard mechanism,” she said.

This includes a national electronic dashboard intended to improve real-time monitoring, coordination and accountability across the country.

Women in politics and leadership

Despite progress in some sectors, women remain under-represented in Nigeria’s political system.

The minister acknowledged that women hold fewer than 10% of seats in parliament.

However, she said proposed legislation such as the Reserved Special Seats Bill could help improve women’s participation in governance.

“We have witnessed a significant emergence of women in appointive leadership positions across the public and private sectors, particularly in the financial sector,” she added.

Expert and public perspective

Gender equality advocates say Nigeria’s policies are important but implementation will determine their success.

According to analysts in Gender Studies, digital inclusion programmes can significantly improve women’s access to economic opportunities, especially in rural communities.

However, they warn that long-term progress will depend on sustained funding, legal enforcement and cultural change.

Global partnerships

Nigeria also called for stronger collaboration with international partners to accelerate gender equality.

The country said it was working with global organisations to implement programmes such as the Nigeria for Women Programme, supported by the World Bank, which targets more than 4.5 million women.

The initiative focuses on income generation and community-based support groups aimed at reducing social barriers to women’s economic participation.

“Excellencies, Nigeria remains committed to working with the international community to accelerate progress on gender equality and women empowerment,” the minister said.

What’s next

Nigeria says it will continue to expand social protection programmes, strengthen gender-responsive budgeting and promote policies that recognise unpaid care work.

The government also plans to increase childcare and social support services to help women participate more fully in the economy.

A Nigerian communications consultancy, TPT International, has marked International Women’s Day 2026 by celebrating its female workforce with a movie outing, lunch gathering, and a work-free day.

The initiative formed part of the agency’s efforts to recognise the contributions of women within its organisation and highlight the importance of gender inclusion in the workplace.

International Women’s Day, observed globally on March 8, recognises the achievements and resilience of women across social, economic and political sectors.

The 2026 theme, “Give to Gain,” emphasises the idea that organisations that invest in women through recognition, opportunity and support can strengthen productivity, innovation and workplace wellbeing.

At TPT International, the celebration offered staff a break from routine work activities while reinforcing the company’s appreciation for its female employees.

The agency’s leadership organised a movie outing and lunch for the women in the organisation and also granted them Monday, March 9, 2026, as a work-free day.

Leadership perspective

Speaking about the initiative, the agency’s Chairman and Chief Consultant, Adetokunbo Modupe, said the organisation’s success had been shaped by the women who work there.

“Women are an invaluable part of our lives and of our organisation. Their contributions have helped shape the growth, strength, and excellence of our professional practice.

“Our standing as a preferred team would not have been possible without the intelligence, dedication, creativity, and positive spirit of the remarkable women within the organisation.

“At TPT, we celebrate and appreciate our women every day. However, International Women’s Day offers a special moment to pause and express our gratitude once again.

“Today’s outing is a simple but impactful way of reminding them that their brilliance, resilience, and professionalism are seen, valued, and deeply appreciated,” he said.

Staff reaction

Responding on behalf of the women in the agency, Client Service Director Ify Yvonne Odita said the celebration reflected a supportive workplace culture.

“Your celebration of TPT women through the movie outing, lunch, and the work-free day speaks volumes about the value you place on appreciation, balance, and wellbeing. It reflects a culture where people are genuinely valued.

“The opportunity to step away from our routines, bond, and enjoy moments of relaxation together made this International Women’s Day truly special.

“We are grateful for the recognition and proud to be part of an organisation that celebrates the contributions of its women,” she said.

Why it matters

Across Nigeria and globally, conversations about gender equality in the workplace have intensified in recent years.

Many organisations are increasingly recognising that diverse teams improve innovation, productivity and employee wellbeing.

Workplace initiatives marking International Women’s Day are often used to highlight gender inclusion, leadership opportunities for women and broader efforts to support work-life balance.

Industry perspective

Workplace culture experts say employee recognition initiatives can improve morale and productivity.

Human resource analysts note that symbolic gestures such as recognition events, mentorship opportunities and flexible policies can help organisations retain talented female professionals.

These initiatives also reinforce corporate values around diversity, inclusion and staff wellbeing.

What’s next

For TPT International, the International Women’s Day celebration served as a reminder of its broader goal of building an inclusive workplace.

The agency says it aims to continue creating an environment where women can grow professionally, take on leadership roles and contribute to shaping the organisation’s future.

Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Hon.  Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, FSI, has called for stronger solidarity among women in leadership, urging them to support one another rather than compete for limited positions.

Speaking at the UN Goals Lounge during a discussion themed “Staying on the Table: Women Leading Through Change,” the minister said women must build a stronger collective movement to expand opportunities in leadership.

The conversation featured global voices including Filipino journalist Karen Davila, alongside other advocates for gender equality.

The minister said women’s progress in leadership depends not only on policy changes but also on how women support each other.

“Because when you look at the Cabinet, I’m one of the youngest members of the Cabinet,” she said.

“What I tell people is that aside your age, when there are women in the room, if there’s ten men and just two women, what do you see, a hundred women? So sometimes it makes us very competitive.”

She urged women to replace rivalry with collaboration.

“And that’s why I would like to approach the women in the room, the women’s agency. You know, now more than ever we need a rise of a she for she’s.”

Why it matters

Women remain underrepresented in political leadership across many countries, despite decades of global advocacy.

According to United Nations data, women hold only a fraction of parliamentary and executive positions worldwide.

The minister said strengthening women’s networks could help close that gap faster.

“We must. We need to strengthen the women’s agency, we need to rejuvenate the women’s movement,” she said.

She also argued that internal divisions among women can sometimes slow progress.

“Because the jealousy thing I think is one of the major triggers for women, that’s why we’re not getting there.”

‘Just be yourself’

The minister also challenged societal expectations placed on women in leadership, saying authenticity matters more than appearance.

“When we know that the space is enough for everyone, we don’t have to be one or three or four in the room,” she said.

“And that age doesn’t matter, you don’t need a BBL, you don’t need a Brazilian hair, it just has to be you, it just has to be you.”

She said confidence and clarity about personal values often define successful female leaders.

“Women who actually rise to the pinnacle of where we are are women that know what they do not want. They know what they want, but they actually know what they do not want.”

Role models in global leadership

The minister pointed to examples of women who have reached the highest levels of global influence while staying true to their identity.

She cited Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization, as a role model.

“Any day, any time I look at the days when I grow up, I look at the women like Ngozi Okonjo Iwela, you see them in their Ragalia, they don’t think they’ve got to wear a suit, a piece of suit to be successful.

What’s next

The minister said global collaboration among women leaders could accelerate gender equality over the next decade.

“Let’s just do us, and be the she for she. Trust me, ten years down the line, we will celebrate the women’s agenda globally.”

Experts say conversations like the UN Goals Lounge help shape policy discussions ahead of major international gender equality initiatives.