The Country Representative of UN Women to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Beatrice Eyong, has warned that the country’s democratic growth and development may remain constrained unless urgent steps are taken to address widening gender inequality.
Eyong gave the warning in Abuja during a media briefing ahead of the 2026 commemoration of International Women’s Day (IWD).
According to her, despite years of advocacy and policy commitments, Nigeria continues to face significant disparities in women’s political representation, safety and access to justice.
The 2026 global observance of International Women’s Day is themed “Rights. Justice. Action.”, a theme Eyong said reflects growing global concern that although women’s rights are widely recognised in laws and policies, many women still struggle to experience those rights in their daily lives.
She expressed particular concern over the country’s extremely low level of female political participation, revealing that women currently occupy only 3.9 per cent of parliamentary seats in Nigeria—one of the lowest levels globally.
Eyong noted that the imbalance undermines democratic inclusion and weakens the country’s capacity to formulate policies that reflect the needs and perspectives of women, who constitute nearly half of the population.
“Gender equality is fundamentally a question of power, and the power gap in Nigeria remains stark,” she said.
“When women are missing from decision-making tables, the consequences are visible in the policies we adopt, the priorities we fund, and the voices that remain unheard.”
Beyond political representation, Eyong said Nigeria continues to contend with persistently high levels of gender-based violence, noting that many survivors still face significant obstacles in accessing justice.
She also warned that violence against women is increasingly extending into digital spaces, where technology-facilitated abuse is becoming a growing concern.
“Rights mean little without justice,” she said. “Justice must be experienced in women’s safety, in their freedom from fear, and in their ability to seek protection and accountability wherever abuse occurs.”
To address these challenges, Eyong said UN Women is intensifying advocacy for the Special Seats for Women Bill, a proposed constitutional amendment aimed at guaranteeing stronger female representation in Nigeria’s legislative institutions.
She added that the organisation is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs Nigeria to strengthen the National Sexual Offender Database, a tool designed to prevent convicted offenders from evading detection by relocating between states.
Eyong further disclosed that UN Women has expanded engagement with traditional and religious leaders across the country to challenge cultural norms and social practices that perpetuate discrimination and violence against women.
The organisation is also supporting efforts to institutionalise Gender-Responsive Budgeting at federal and state levels to ensure public spending prioritises issues affecting women and girls, including maternal health, girl-child education, economic empowerment and community safety.
In addition, she highlighted ongoing partnerships with financial institutions and the private sector to expand access to funding for women-led businesses and grassroots initiatives.
Eyong also noted that UN Women is supporting initiatives to strengthen women’s roles in peacebuilding and conflict prevention through Nigeria’s Third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.
However, she stressed that meaningful progress will require more than policy declarations.
According to her, Nigeria’s challenge is not a shortage of gender-related policies but weak implementation, inadequate financing and inconsistent enforcement.
“We must move from commitments to implementation and from plans to measurable impact,” she said.
Eyong also called on the media to play a stronger role in exposing injustice, amplifying the voices of survivors of violence and promoting women’s leadership across sectors.
She described journalists as critical partners in shaping national conversations capable of influencing policy reforms and public attitudes toward gender equality.
“When we secure justice and rights for women, we secure Nigeria’s stability, prosperity and future,” she said.
Eyong reaffirmed that UN Women remains committed to working with government, civil society organisations, development partners and communities to ensure that the ideals of Rights, Justice and Action translate into tangible improvements for women and girls across Nigeria.
