UN Women Warns Nigeria’s Growth at Risk Amid Widening Gender Gap
Beatrice Eyong, the UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, has cautioned that Nigeria’s democratic and developmental progress could remain limited unless urgent steps are taken to address the country’s growing gender inequality.
Speaking in Abuja ahead of the 2026 International Women’s Day celebrations, Eyong highlighted that, despite years of advocacy and policy efforts, Nigerian women still face significant barriers in political representation, personal safety, and access to justice. This year’s global theme, “Rights. Justice. Action.”, reflects the urgent need to ensure that women’s rights are not just written into law but actually experienced in everyday life.
Eyong drew particular attention to Nigeria’s alarmingly low female political participation, revealing that women occupy only 3.9% of parliamentary seats—among the lowest rates worldwide. She stressed that this imbalance not only weakens democratic inclusion but also hampers the country’s ability to craft policies that address the needs of half its population.
“Gender equality is fundamentally a question of power, and the gap in Nigeria remains stark,” she said. “When women are absent from decision-making tables, it shows in the policies we adopt, the priorities we fund, and the voices that are left unheard.”
Beyond politics, Eyong warned that gender-based violence remains high, with many survivors still struggling to access justice. She also noted that technology-facilitated abuse is on the rise, as violence against women increasingly extends into digital spaces.
Thank you for visiting The Vestigator, don't forget to share!
Eyong explained that UN Women is collaborating with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to strengthen the National Sexual Offender Database, a key tool aimed at ensuring convicted offenders cannot evade justice by moving between states.
She also noted that the organisation has expanded its engagement with traditional and religious leaders nationwide to challenge cultural norms and practices that perpetuate discrimination and violence against women.
In addition, UN Women is supporting efforts to institutionalize Gender-Responsive Budgeting at both federal and state levels, ensuring that government spending prioritizes issues that directly affect women and girls—such as maternal health, education for girls, economic empowerment, and community safety.
Beyond policy reforms, Eyong highlighted partnerships with financial institutions and the private sector to increase access to funding for women-led businesses and community initiatives. She also underscored efforts 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 real change goes beyond policy announcements. According to Eyong, Nigeria does not lack gender-focused policies; the challenges lie in weak implementation, insufficient funding, and inconsistent enforcement.
“We must move from commitments to concrete action, and from plans to measurable impact,” she said.
Eyong urged the media to play a stronger role in exposing injustice, amplifying the voices of survivors, and promoting women’s leadership across all sectors. She emphasized that journalists are vital partners in shaping public discourse, influencing policies, and shifting societal attitudes toward gender equality.
“When we secure justice and rights for women, we secure Nigeria’s stability, prosperity, and future,” she said, adding that UN Women remains committed to working with government, civil society, development partners, and communities to ensure the ideals of Rights, Justice, and Action translate into real change for women and girls across the country.
