The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has called for urgent global and national action to dismantle barriers limiting women and girls as Nigeria joined the rest of the world to commemorate the 2026 International Women’s Day.
In a statement signed by the ministry’s spokesperson, Kimiebi Ebienfa, the federal government said the occasion provides an opportunity to celebrate Nigerian women while pushing for stronger action to advance gender equality and protect the rights of women and girls.
“On this auspicious occasion of International Women’s Day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is pleased to join the global community in commemorating International Women’s Day 2026 to celebrate Nigerian women.”
It noted that the theme for this year’s celebration, “Rights. Justice. Action. For All Women and Girls”, highlighted by the United Nations and UN Women, underscores the urgent need to address systemic inequalities affecting women across the world.
According to the statement, the theme serves as a powerful call to action, adding that it underscores the urgent need to dismantle persistent barriers, discriminatory laws, inadequate legal protections, harmful social norms, and systemic inequalities that continue to limit the full realisation of rights for women and girls worldwide.
The ministry emphasised that women and girls make up nearly half of Nigeria’s population and continue to play critical roles in national development, contributing significantly to economic growth, peacebuilding and social stability across communities.
It noted that Nigerian women, from rural communities to professional spaces, have continued to demonstrate resilience, innovation and leadership in various sectors of the country’s economy and governance structures.
The statement further reaffirmed the commitment of the administration of Bola Tinubu to gender equality and women’s empowerment, noting that the government remains committed to protecting women’s rights through national policies and international frameworks.
“In Nigeria, women and girls constitute nearly half of our population and play indispensable roles as drivers of economic growth, social cohesion, peacebuilding, and sustainable development. From the farms and markets in Sabagreia to Azare, Katsina-Ala to Okitipupa, Egini to Godowoli, and Okposi to Kaura Namoda, to boardrooms, diplomatic corridors, and homes, Nigerian women demonstrate remarkable resilience, innovation, and leadership.
“The Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Tinubu, remains steadfast in its commitment to gender equality, women’s empowerment, and the protection of their rights as enshrined in national policies and regional instruments such as the Maputo Protocol, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and international frameworks including the Sustainable Development Goals (particularly Goal 5) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
“The government of Nigeria remains steadfast. We continue to advocate for increased women’s representation in decision-making, the elimination of gender-based violence, economic inclusion, and equal access to justice and opportunities, principles that underpin our foreign policy.”
It added that Nigeria would continue to pursue these commitments through legal reforms, inclusive justice systems and international cooperation, urging governments, civil society and development partners to unite in urgent collective action to ensure that every woman and girl enjoys her full rights, receives justice without discrimination and thrives in dignity and equality.
“In our foreign policy anchored on the 4Ds (Demography, Democracy, Development and Diaspora), Nigeria continues to champion these principles on the global stage, advocating for multilateral cooperation to address the root causes of inequality and to support women in conflict-affected and vulnerable settings.
“Therefore, as we commemorate 2026 International Women’s Day, the ministry celebrates the achievements of Nigerian women and girls at home and in the diaspora while renewing our resolve to translate commitments into tangible progress.
“Let us all, government institutions, civil society, private sector partners, and the international community, unite in urgent, collective action to ensure that every woman and girl enjoys her full rights, receives justice without discrimination, and thrives in dignity and equality. Happy International Women’s Day 2026!” The statement reads
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