The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) has commended Nigeria for its significant strides in implementing the Beijing Platform for Action (BPfA), particularly in advancing women’s political participation, economic empowerment, education, and efforts to combat gender-based violence.
UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, delivered this commendation on Monday in Abuja during a high-level consultation on Nigeria’s Beijing+30 Report Review, ahead of the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69).
While acknowledging Nigeria’s progress, Eyong emphasized that emerging challenges require a concerted effort to drive transformative change. She reaffirmed UN Women’s commitment to supporting Nigeria in fast-tracking gender-responsive policies.
“This consultation is a crucial step in ensuring that Nigeria’s national report for CSW69 is comprehensive, inclusive, and reflective of the diverse realities faced by women and girls across the country,” Eyong stated. “The participation of stakeholders from government, civil society, academia, and the development sector underscores our collective commitment to reviewing progress, identifying priorities, and shaping strategic recommendations that will advance Nigeria’s gender equality agenda beyond Beijing+30.”
She further reiterated UN Women’s steadfast support for the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and other key stakeholders in strengthening women’s leadership and accelerating gender-responsive initiatives.
Eyong highlighted the importance of assessing Nigeria’s achievements, challenges, and priorities in preparation for CSW69. “This consultation builds upon the initial report drafted in November 2024, providing a platform for refining the document through an inclusive and participatory approach. The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, in collaboration with UN Women and key partners, has demonstrated a strong commitment to ensuring that Nigeria’s report aligns with global best practices while accurately reflecting national realities.”
The Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, adopted in 1995 at the Fourth World Conference on Women, remains a cornerstone of global policy for gender equality. It outlines 12 critical areas of concern requiring urgent attention, including women and poverty, education and training, health, violence against women, and women in armed conflict. Additional focal areas include women’s economic empowerment, political participation, institutional mechanisms for gender equality, human rights, media representation, environmental sustainability, and the well-being of the girl child.
Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, represented by the Director of Women Development, Mrs. Friya Bulus, emphasized the significance of the Beijing+30 platform in assessing achievements and charting the way forward.
“This platform provides an opportunity to celebrate Nigeria’s progress under the Beijing+30 framework while critically evaluating our performance. We must assess the challenges, identify best practices, and address key obstacles hindering women’s economic empowerment and gender equality,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim remarked.
She urged participants to engage in a thorough review of past reports, recognizing the extensive efforts undertaken in compiling Nigeria’s Beijing+30 report and ensuring that future strategies build upon these foundations.
