IWD 2026: ‘UN Women’ warns for Nigeria’s democracy

The Country Representative of UN Women in Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Beatrice Eyong, has warned that Nigeria’s democratic progress and development could remain stalled unless urgent action is taken to close the growing gender inequality gap in the country.

Speaking in Abuja during a media briefing ahead of the 2026 commemoration of International Women’s Day, Eyong said Nigeria continues to face worrying disparities in women’s representation, safety and access to justice, despite years of support and political commitments.

This year’s global celebration is themed “Rights. Justice. Action.”

Eyong said the topic reflects a growing international concern that although women’s rights are widely recognized in law and policy, millions of women still struggle to experience such rights in their daily lives.

In particular, she raised the alarm about the extremely low level of female political representation in Nigeria, revealing that women currently hold just 3.9% of parliamentary seats, one of the lowest rates anywhere in the world.

According to her, the imbalance not only undermines democratic inclusion, but also weakens the country’s ability to implement policies that reflect the needs of half its population.

“Gender equality is fundamentally about power, and the power gap in Nigeria remains stark,” Eyong 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 go unheard.”

Beyond politics, she said Nigeria continues to struggle with persistently high levels of gender-based violence, stressing that many survivors still face enormous obstacles in seeking justice.

She warned that violence against women is increasingly spreading in digital spaces, where abuse facilitated by technology has become a growing threat.

“Rights mean little without justice,” he 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 stepping up support for the Special Seats for Women Bill, a proposed constitutional reform aimed at ensuring women have stronger representation in Nigeria’s legislative institutions.

She explained that the organization is also working with the federal Ministry of Women’s Affairs to strengthen the National Sex Offender Database, a critical accountability tool designed to prevent convicts from evading detection by moving from one state to another.

Additionally, she said UN Women has expanded its engagement with traditional and religious leaders across Nigeria to challenge cultural norms and social practices that perpetuate discrimination and violence against women.

The agency is also supporting efforts to institutionalize Gender-Responsive Budgeting at the federal and state levels to ensure that public spending prioritizes issues that affect women and girls, including maternal health, girls’ education, economic empowerment, and community safety.

Eyong noted that in addition to policy reforms, UN Women is building partnerships with financial institutions and the private sector to increase access to finance for women-led businesses and community initiatives.

She also highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen women’s participation in peacebuilding and conflict prevention through Nigeria’s Third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security.

However, Eyong stressed that significant progress will require more than just political declarations.

According to her, Nigeria does not suffer from a lack of gender policies but from weak implementation, insufficient funding and inconsistent enforcement.

“We need to move from commitments to implementation and from plans to measurable impact,” he said.

She called on the media to step up their role in exposing injustice, amplifying the voices of survivors of violence and promoting women’s leadership in all sectors.

Eyong said journalists remain critical partners in shaping national conversations that can influence political reforms and public attitudes towards gender equality.

“When we guarantee justice and rights for women, we guarantee the stability, prosperity and future of Nigeria,” she said.

She added that UN Women remains committed to working with government, civil society, development partners and communities to ensure that the ideals of rights, justice and action translate into tangible change for women and girls across Nigeria.

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