by FIDAWorld Day Against Child Labour 2026 Theme: “Red Card to Child Labour: Fair Play for Children, Decent Work for Adults”
Every child carrying bricks instead of books is evidence of a promise broken.
Across Nigeria today, millions of children are trapped in labour when they should be learning, playing, and preparing for the future. Behind every statistic is a child whose dreams are being delayed, diminished, or denied altogether. A child selling goods under the scorching sun, working long hours in farms, markets, workshops, mines, or on the streets is not demonstrating resilience; that child is being failed by systems that were designed to protect them.
As the world marks the 2026 World Day Against Child Labour, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria joins the global call to show a red card to child labour and demand a society where every child enjoys the right to education, protection, dignity, and opportunity.
The reality before us is deeply troubling. According to the Nigeria Child Labour Survey 2022 conducted by the National Bureau of Statistics in collaboration with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, approximately 24.7 million Nigerian children between the ages of 5 and 17 are engaged in child labour, while about 14.4 million are involved in hazardous work that threatens their health, safety, education, and overall development. These figures underscore the scale of the challenge and the urgency of sustained action to protect every child’s right to a safe, healthy, and productive childhood.
Child labour remains one of the most visible manifestations of poverty, inequality, weak social protection systems, and inadequate enforcement of child protection laws. Many families facing severe economic hardship are forced into impossible choices, while children bear the consequences. Yet poverty can never be accepted as justification for exposing children to exploitation, hazardous work, abuse, or conditions that rob them of their childhood and future.
Nigeria has already made clear legal and policy commitments. The Child Rights Act 2003 guarantees the protection, survival, development, and best interests of every child. The Labour Act establishes safeguards regarding the employment of children and young persons. Nigeria has also ratified the International Labour Organization Convention No. 138 on Minimum Age for Employment and Convention No. 182 on the Worst Forms of Child Labour, affirming its commitment to eliminating child labour in all its forms.
The challenge before us is no longer the absence of laws. It is the gap between commitment and implementation. It is the persistent gap between commitment and implementation, between promises made and protections delivered.
Far too many children remain exposed to hazardous labour, trafficking, exploitation, and other violations despite these protections. This demands stronger coordination and enforcement by relevant institutions, including the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, the National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), state governments, law enforcement agencies, and child protection authorities across the country.
FIDA Nigeria therefore calls for urgent and measurable action:
• The Federal Government must strengthen implementation of national child labour elimination strategies, expand social protection programmes for vulnerable families, and increase resources for labour inspections and child protection systems.
• State Governments must fully domesticate and effectively implement the Child Rights Act where gaps remain, while ensuring functional child protection mechanisms at state and local government levels.
• Employers and the Private Sector must conduct due diligence across their supply chains and adopt zero-tolerance policies against child labour in all forms.
• Communities, traditional institutions, religious leaders, and parents must actively report cases of child labour, trafficking, and exploitation and prioritize children’s education and wellbeing.
• Law enforcement and regulatory agencies must ensure that violators face swift investigation, prosecution, and appropriate sanctions.
A nation cannot build sustainable development on the backs of children whose rights are being denied. Every child withdrawn from school to work represents not only an individual tragedy but also a collective loss for Nigeria’s future.
On this World Day Against Child Labour, FIDA Nigeria reaffirms its unwavering commitment to protecting the rights of every child and advancing a Nigeria where no child’s future is sacrificed to poverty, exploitation, or neglect.
The choice before us is clear: either we protect children now, or we pay the price of failed potential for generations to come.
Children belong in classrooms, not worksites. Their hands should hold books, not burdens.
Signed
Country Vice President/National President
FIDA Nigeria
by FIDAFIDA NIGERIA DRIVES CONVERSATIONS ON WOMEN’S INCLUSION AND JUDICIAL REFORM IN BENUE STATE
In Benue State, FIDA Nigeria engaged judicial stakeholders and women judicial officers in critical conversations on leadership, career growth, workplace realities, and the barriers limiting women’s advancement in the judiciary.
Under the project “Strengthening Women Inclusion and Advancement in Nigeria Judiciary through Institutional Reforms” in partnership with Co-Impact, the engagement reinforced the urgent need for inclusive reforms and stronger institutional support for women in the justice sector.
#FIDANigeria #WomenInJudiciary #JudicialReform
by FIDAPROGRESS WITHIN THE JUDICIARY GROWS STRONGER WHEN WOMEN’S EXPERIENCES AND LEADERSHIP JOURNEYS ARE PART OF THE CONVERSATION.
FIDA Nigeria recently concluded a two-day consultative engagement in Kebbi State focused on advancing women’s inclusion in the judiciary through institutional reforms.
The engagement brought together the Judicial Service Commission, Ministry of Justice, and female judicial officers to discuss barriers, institutional gaps, and opportunities to strengthen gender equity and increase women’s representation in judicial leadership.
The conversations also created space for collaboration and reforms toward a more inclusive judiciary.
#FIDANigeria #WomenInJudiciary #JudicialReform
by FIDAWHAT DOES IT TRULY TAKE FOR WOMEN TO GROW, LEAD, AND THRIVE WITHIN NIGERIA’S JUDICIARY?
FIDA Nigeria and the FIDA Ondo State Branch convened judicial stakeholders and women judicial officers for frank conversations on leadership, career progression, workplace realities, and the systemic barriers that continue to affect women’s inclusion and advancement.
Through consultative engagements and shared personal experiences, participants raised critical questions, exchanged perspectives, and reflected on the reforms needed to build a more inclusive and supportive judicial system for women at every stage of their careers.
Implemented under the project “Strengthening Women Inclusion and Advancement in Nigeria Judiciary through Institutional Reforms” in partnership with Co-Impact, the engagement reaffirmed the importance of creating spaces where experiences are valued, voices are heard, and meaningful institutional change can take root.
#FIDANigeria #WomenInJudiciary #JudicialReform
by FIDABeyond the Bench: Conversations on Growth, Leadership and Women’s Experiences in the Judiciary
Last weekend in Damaturu, FIDA Nigeria and the Yobe State Branch spent time with judicial stakeholders and women judicial officers discussing growth, leadership and career progression within the judiciary.
The engagement started on Friday with consultative visits to the Yobe State Judicial Service Commission and the Magistrate Association of Nigeria, Yobe State Branch, where conversations focused on the factors shaping growth and advancement within the system.
On Saturday, the discussions continued with women judicial officers sharing their experiences across different stages of their careers.
There were conversations around workplace expectations, recruitment processes, indigenization concerns, career progression, and the realities of balancing professional responsibilities with societal expectations.
Participants spoke openly, shared perspectives, asked difficult questions and reflected on the experiences that continue to shape opportunities within the judiciary.
Facilitated by Abubakar Lamba, retired Chief Magistrate, the session formed part of the project “Strengthening Women Inclusion and Advancement in Nigeria Judiciary through Institutional Reforms,” implemented by FIDA Nigeria in partnership with Co-Impact.
Across both days, one thing was clear — there is value in creating spaces where people can speak freely about their experiences and contribute to conversations around strengthening the system.
by FIDAFIDA Nigeria commences the implementation of an Initiative to Advance Gender Equitable Representation and Leadership in Nigeria’s Judiciary with support from Collaborative Philanthropy (Co-Impact)
The international Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria is set to commence the implementation of a five (5) years project with specific focus on “Strengthening Women Inclusion and Advancement in Nigeria Judiciary through Institutional Reforms. This initiative is conceptualized due to the narrative that women account for less than 30 percent of judges in Nigeria’s superior courts of record as of 2024, with significantly lower representation in Sharia and Customary Courts.
This initiative aims at reforming institutional processes that influence judicial appointments, career progression, and leadership selection of judicial officers at the federal level and across ten states at the sub-national level including Ondo, Ekiti (South West) Ebonyi, Anambra (South East), Sokoto, Kebbi (North West), Yobe (North East), Benue, Kogi & Plateau (North Central) while advancing inclusion, equity and diversity processes to aid effective representation and leadership within the judiciary by working closely with the Federal & State Judicial Service commission.
This initiative will commence with an initial ten months design phase heralding a period to collectively propel a deeper understanding of the Judiciary mandates in the recruitment, appointment, workplace culture, promotion, accountability and discipline of Judicial officers, while co-creating strategies at addressing systemic barriers to gender progression and ensuring a more gender-responsive system with the Judiciary leadership.
This initiative will further institutionalize gender-sensitive governance reforms in appointments and promotions, routine gender audits, mentorship/career development, and safe workplace standards for women judicial officers in the Judiciary.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Eliana Martins (Mrs.)
Country Vice /National President
by FIDAA NATION IN PAIN
How many more lives must be lost before decisive action is taken to protect innocent citizens?
Jos is bleeding.
Homes have been shattered. Families torn apart. Mothers are burying their children. The silence of those we have lost echoes louder than any words we can offer.
This is not just another incident.
This is a tragedy we are becoming too familiar with — and that is the real danger.
We refuse to normalize bloodshed.
We refuse to accept a reality where innocent lives are taken without consequence.
This cannot continue.
We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved and stand in solidarity with all those affected. We call for all-round support — medical, psychological, and humanitarian — for survivors struggling to rebuild their lives.
We demand immediate, decisive, and sustained action to end this cycle of violence. The safety of citizens is not optional — it is a fundamental duty.
Those responsible must be held accountable.
Communities must be protected.
Lives must be valued — not mourned in repetition.
Nigeria cannot keep bleeding.
Every life lost is a failure we must not accept.
Every community deserves to live without fear.
by FIDAA FAILURE IN PLAIN SIGHT: FIDA NIGERIA CONDEMNS OZORO FESTIVAL VIOLENCE AGAINST WOMEN; JUSTICE & ACCOUNTABILITY CANNOT WAIT!
FIDA Nigeria vehemently condemns the reported acts of great violence against women at the recent Ozoro festival in Delta State.
This brazen disregard for human dignity, is unacceptable and cannot be ignored.
What happened is not an isolated lapse — it is a glaring failure of protection, oversight, and disregard to the dignity of womanhood.
It is not culture or tradition but plain criminal acts and must be stopped.
Public spaces must never be arenas where the safety and dignity of women are compromised or negotiable.
The right to personal security is non-negotiable and must be enforced proactively and consistently.
Justice & Accountability in this matter is not optional. Those responsible must be identified and face the full force of the law. Survivors must be shielded, protected and cared for.
Beyond identifying and punishing perpetrators, it is imperative to scrutinize the systemic gaps that allowed such acts to unfold and ensure they are decisively addressed.
Organizers, community leaders, and authorities share the responsibility to guarantee and ensure that preventive safeguards are not just on paper but effective in practice. Public confidence hinges on visible, equitable, decisive action — anything less is a failure to uphold justice and protect citizens.
FIDA Nigeria demands immediate prompt action Now!
It must serve as a deterrent to other communities who under the guise of culture and traditions perpetuate heinous crimes against women.
Our laws abhors culture and traditions that are repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience.
We will not stay silent. We will not accept excuses.
Justice must be served — now.
Signed:
Country Vice President, FIDA Nigeria
Eliana Martins
Chineze Obianyo
National Publicity Secretary
FIDA Nigeria
by FIDAVACANCY ANNOUNCEMENT: Grants Mobilization, Partnerships & External Relations Officer
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria is a non-governmental, non-profit and non-political organization committed to the promotion and protection of the rights of women and children through legal aid, advocacy, capacity building and institutional strengthening.
Location: National Secretariat, Abuja
The successful candidate will play a key role in supporting the organization’s resource mobilization efforts through grant writing, proposal development and partnership expansion and management, while also serving as a strategic liaison between FIDA Nigeria and key institutional stakeholders, including the Judiciary and her organs/components.
Key Responsibilities
Grant Mobilization
• Initiate the development of high-quality grant proposals, concept notes and funding applications to bilateral and multilateral donors, foundations and development partners.
• Identify and track funding opportunities aligned with FIDA Nigeria’s strategic priorities.
• Initiate proposal development processes, including technical inputs, budgeting and submission timeline
• Contribute to the development of institutional resource mobilization strategies.
• Initiate the development of organization resource mobilization framework
• Expand and strengthen organization resource mobilization policy and procedures
• Conduct donor landscape mapping to understand donors’ funding areas, themes, and future priorities
• Align fundraising efforts with the organization’s overall mission and long-term goals.
• Initiate organization fundraising diversification and funding policy
• Conduct industry mapping – to understand other organizations’ funding models, donors, areas of work, and competitive advantages
• Initiate the development of organization capacity statement
• Attend Call for Proposal and bid meetings
Partnerships & External Relations
• Manage and strengthen existing strategic partnerships with development partners, civil society organizations and institutional stakeholders.
• Initiate the development of a Partnership Policy and tools
• Conduct Partnership mapping to identify new strategic partners
• Serve as a key liaison between FIDA Nigeria and the Judiciary and relevant organs, facilitating communication, collaboration and coordination on initiatives that strengthen access to justice for women and children.
• Support the development and implementation of partnership engagement strategies to enhance institutional collaboration.
• Maintain relationships with existing donors and partners while identifying opportunities for new partnerships.
• Support the preparation of partnership briefs, reports and presentations for stakeholders and partners.
• Contribute to the development of institutional resource mobilization strategies.
• Contribute to the development of partnership strategies, action plans, and reporting mechanisms.
• Represent FIDA Nigeria in relevant stakeholder meetings, consultations and engagement platforms where required.
Qualifications and Experience
• Bachelor’s degree in Law or a related field. A postgraduate degree will be an added advantage.
• Minimum of 3-5 years of relevant professional experience in grant writing, proposal development, partnership management or resource mobilization within a non-profit, development or advocacy organization.
• Evidence of work with relevant actors in the Judiciary as an institution
• Proven experience developing successful grant proposals and managing donor relationships.
• Strong understanding of donor funding mechanisms, development programming and partnership engagement.
• An excellent demonstration of working experience with government institutions, judicial bodies or policy stakeholders is highly desirable.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills with strong proposal and report writing abilities.
• Strong interpersonal and relationship management skills.
• High level of professionalism, discretion and organizational ability.
• Ability to work independently, manage multiple priorities and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
Reporting Line
The Grants Mobilization, Partnerships and External Relations Officer will work under the direct supervision of the Senior Manager and provide support to the Programs and Partnership Department.
Application Process
Interested and qualified candidates should submit the following:
• A detailed Curriculum Vitae (CV)
• A cover letter highlighting relevant experience and suitability for the role
Applications should be sent via email to: hr@fida.org.ng with the subject line “Application – Grants & Partnerships Officer.”
Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.
Females are strongly encouraged to apply!
by FIDAInternational Women’s Day 2026 Theme: Rights, Justice and Action for All Women and Girls
Every day in Nigeria, a woman seeks protection and is told to wait. A girl reports abuse and is advised to remain silent. A survivor enters a courtroom carrying both trauma and hope, uncertain which one will leave with her.
On International Women’s Day 2026, the International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria celebrates the resilience, strength, and courage of women and girls across the nation. At the same time, we renew our call for a justice system and a society that do not ask women to endure in silence while institutions move at the pace of bureaucracy.
This year’s theme, Rights, Justice and Action for All Women and Girls, is not a ceremonial declaration. It is a call for enforcement, accountability, and measurable progress.
Justice must not depend on geography, income, ethnicity, disability, or social status. It must be accessible to all without discrimination.
Survivors of gender-based violence deserve timely investigations, diligent prosecution, and enforceable judgments. When cases stall, when accountability is inconsistent, and when stigma outweighs protection, the justice system fails those it was designed to defend.
Every woman and girl is entitled to dignity, safety, equality before the law, and meaningful participation in society. These are constitutional guarantees, not privileges granted by culture or circumstance. No woman should have to negotiate for protection, and no girl should inherit discrimination as her future.
Particular attention must be given to women and girls facing intersecting vulnerabilities, including women with disabilities, those in rural and conflict-affected communities, and economically marginalized populations. Reform that does not prioritize the most vulnerable remains incomplete.
Women and girls must not only be protected; they must also be heard. Their lived experiences expose systemic gaps, strengthen reform efforts, and enrich governance. Excluding women from decision-making or silencing survivors only perpetuates injustice.
FIDA Nigeria therefore calls for strengthened enforcement of gender-protective laws, reduced procedural delays within the justice system, expanded access to free legal aid and survivor support services, gender-responsive budgeting, transparent monitoring mechanisms, and sustained public education to challenge harmful stereotypes and discriminatory norms.
Declarations without implementation weaken public trust.
Transforming outcomes requires transforming attitudes. Families, schools, faith institutions, traditional authorities, media platforms, government agencies, civil society, and the private sector all share responsibility for dismantling discrimination and safeguarding rights.
When women and girls cannot access justice, the rule of law weakens. When violence goes unpunished, public confidence erodes. When inequality persists, national development slows. A nation that cannot protect its women cannot claim institutional strength.
As the Country Vice President of FIDA Nigeria stated:
“International Women’s Day must not be reduced to celebration while many women continue to navigate broken systems. Justice must move at the speed of urgency, not bureaucracy.”
As Nigeria advances broader institutional reform efforts, including within the justice sector, FIDA Nigeria remains steadfast in expanding free legal aid, advancing strategic litigation, strengthening policy advocacy, and closing enforcement gaps nationwide.
International Women’s Day 2026 must mark visible progress.
Rights must be protected.
Justice must be delivered.
Action must be sustained.
We also call on individuals, communities, and institutions to support women and girls in practical ways — by empowering them to thrive, extending care to those in need, and investing in initiatives that advance their safety, dignity, and opportunity.
Happy International Women’s Day.
Signed:
Elina Martins
Country Vice President
FIDA Nigeria
Chineze Obianyo
National Publicity Secretary
FIDA Nigeria
