Stakeholders at the Beijing+30 Women’s Summit have urged for reinforced policies, sustained funding, and collective action to advance women’s rights and gender equality in Nigeria.
The event, marking 30 years since the adoption of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, was held in Abuja and organised by the Amandla Institute for Policy and Leadership Advancement in partnership with the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN-Nigeria) and Womanifesto.
Participants highlighted that structural barriers, policy gaps, and inadequate funding have slowed progress in gender equity, stressing the need for urgent reforms to ensure women’s full participation in national decision-making.
Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs, emphasised economic empowerment as a key tool to enhance women’s financial independence, reduce vulnerability, and enable active political participation.
She cautioned that poorly designed legislative measures, such as the proposed reserved-seats bill, could be counterproductive without strategic consensus and careful negotiation.
Professor Olabisi Aina of Obafemi Awolowo University called for a coordinated, data-driven approach to gender equity, stressing that effective feminist governance requires reshaping decision-making structures rather than merely filling positions with women.
Key priorities include intergenerational mentorship, gender-responsive budgeting, combating gender-based violence (GBV), feminist data governance, and investment in knowledge production.
Professor Olufolake AbdulRazaq, Chairperson of the Nigeria Governors Spouses’ Forum, reaffirmed commitment to ending GBV and improving women’s rights and governance participation.
Meanwhile, Mrs. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi of the Amandla Institute underscored the need for nationwide accountability and sustained advocacy, noting that progress for African women has been uneven since 1995.
The summit shared commitment to transformative feminist governance aimed at addressing persistent gender inequalities and accelerating meaningful change for women across Nigeria.
