by FIDA

Branch ActivitiesMarch 8, 20250 comments

PRESS STATEMENT BY FIDA NIGERIA ON THE COMMEMORATION OF INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY 2025

Theme: For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment

How much longer must the Nigerian woman and girl child wait for equity and justice; for inclusion and Equal Opportunities? Women and Girls are more than deserving of justice, equality, and empowerment.

On this International Women’s Day 2025, FIDA Nigeria raises a clarion call to great action; Women Arise, Accelerate Action!!!

We stand in unwavering solidarity with women and girls across the nation focused on the theme :- For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment is not just a slogan—it is an urgent demand to end systemic oppression, injustice, and discrimination.

Yet our tragic reality is – A Nation Failing Its Women!! Even though the Nigerian Constitution (under Section 42 (1)) guarantees freedom from discrimination, women are still denied equal opportunities in political representation, inheritance rights, and employment; while necessary qualifications and merit is being thrown out the window to allow for patriarchal sentiments, stereotyping, nepotism, tribalism and indigeneship.

Though the National Gender Policy (2006) prescribes 35% affirmative action for women in leadership, yet it is looked at as a toothless bulldog being that women occupy less than 6% of elective positions, a blatant disregard for gender inclusivity.

Accordingly, across Nigeria, millions of women and girls continue to face gender-based violence, economic deprivation, and systematic discrimination and exclusion. The National Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), confirms that 31% of Nigerian women aged between 15-49 years have experienced physical violence, yet only 1 in 3 victims seek help, with many unable to access justice due to stigma, fear, and institutional barriers.

Nigeria remains one of the top 10 countries with the highest rates of child marriage, with the United Nations reporting that over 44% of girls are married before the age of 18, robbing them of their bright future and exposing them to unimaginable suffering and deprivation.

While we note that Legal Protections Exist, however Justice Remains Most Elusive to the Average woman. This is despite Nigeria’s commitment to international frameworks such as the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) and the Maputo Protocol, implementation remains a mirage.

The Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) 2015 has not been domesticated in all states, leaving many women unprotected. While the Child Rights Act 2003, meant to safeguard young girls from early and forced marriages, is yet to be fully implemented across the country, allowing archaic traditions and beliefs to continue violating children’s rights.

FIDA Nigeria says Enough is Enough! Women Arise! Let’s Accelerate Action, for ALL Women and Girls: For the Promotion, Protection, Preservation of Rights; For Equality & Empowerment!

We stand as the Legal Voice for Women and Girls and remain the beacon of hope for women facing all forms of injustice. Through our free legal aid services, we have provided legal representation to over 15,000 indigent women and girls in the past year alone. We have championed strategic litigation to challenge discriminatory laws and practices, ensuring that perpetrators of gender-based violence and sexual exploitation are held accountable.

We continue to advocate for the full domestication and enforcement of the VAPP Act, the Child Rights Act, and the National Gender Policy. Our grassroots sensitization programs have educated thousands of women on their legal rights, empowering them to speak up against oppression.

Enough is Enough: we Call for Action as we demand urgent, concrete actions to protect and promote the rights of women and girls in Nigeria:

Women Arise and let us work together, mentor and support each other; likewise we encourage HeForShe champions to join us in addressing some of these issues for the betterment of society

The Federal and State Governments must prioritize gender-responsive policies and ensure the full implementation of existing legal frameworks. While State Assemblies must urgently domesticate the VAPP Act and Child Rights Act to guarantee legal protections for all Nigerian women and girls.

Additionally, Law enforcement agencies must ensure swift and unbiased prosecution of gender-based violence cases, removing the barriers that hinder victims from seeking justice.

Even the private sector has a role to play as they must enforce equal pay policies, eliminate workplace harassment, and create inclusive environments where women can thrive.

The Nigerian society must collectively reject harmful traditional practices that sustain gender inequality and violence against women. Let’s change the narrative and portray strong women in better light because we know that Women’s involvement will lead to better policies on issues concerning society especially in the areas of poverty reduction, family welfare, health care and education.

The culture of endurance and silence, must abate, while parity and
and empowerment become non non-negotiable. We refuse to let another generation of girls grow up in fear, oppression, and deprivation. As an unwavering legal shield, FIDA stands for every Nigerian woman and girl; We will not rest until justice prevails across board!

For ALL Women and Girls, we demand RIGHTS. We demand EQUALITY. We demand EMPOWERMENT. And we will not stop until we achieve it.

Happy International Women’s Day!

AccelerateAction #FIDAForJustice #IWD2025 #EndGenderInequality

Eliana Martins
Country Vice President
FIDA Nigeria

Chineze Obianyo
National Publicity Secretary
FIDA Nigeria