Editor’s Note: Nigeria’s path to sustainable development is intricately linked to empowering women leaders, strengthening child protection systems, and advancing disability rights. Despite its vast potential, the nation grapples with deeply ingrained cultural norms, societal biases, and systemic inequalities that hinder women’s participation in leadership positions. To break down these barriers, Maureen Okpe writes that experts at the 2nd Annual Conference of Commissioners of State Ministries of Women Affairs organised by the EU-ROLAC Programme of International IDEA, have recommend a comprehensive approach that includes effective planning, budgeting, and institutional frameworks that support women’s empowerment, as well as the establishment of Child Protection Committees, Disability Rights Commissions, and Gender-Based Violence Response Units at the state level. By fostering institutional change, improving policies, and ensuring inclusive participation, Nigeria can create a more equitable society where all citizens can thrive.
Nigeria, a nation brimming with potential, faces numerous challenges that hinder its progress toward sustainable development. Among these challenges, gender inequality, child protection, and the rights of persons with disabilities (PWDs) stand out as critical areas requiring urgent attention. These issues not only disrupt the social fabric but also undermine economic growth and national development.
At the recently concluded 2nd Annual Conference of Commissioners of State Ministries of Women Affairs, experts emphasized that empowering women leaders, strengthening child protection systems, and advancing disability rights must be central to Nigeria’s development strategy.
The three-day event in commemoration of the InternationalWomen’s Day 2025, organized by the European Union-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC-Phase II) Programme of International IDEA in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, was held under the theme: Sub-National Policy and Practice for Enhancing Rights, Protection, and Justice for Women, Children, and Persons with Disabilities. Experts at the event underscored the need for an inclusive society where these critical issues are addressed to foster sustainable development.
Empowering women leaders: A call to action
Empowering women is essential to achieving gender equality and social justice. However, in Nigeria, women remain significantly underrepresented in leadership positions due to deeply ingrained cultural norms, societal biases, and systemic inequalities.
James Lalu, a disability rights expert and former Executive Secretary of the National Commission for Persons with Disabilities, argued that empowering women leaders is not just about promoting gender equality but also about creating a more just and equitable society. According to Lalu, women in leadership bring diverse perspectives and innovative solutions, which are vital for sustainable development.
Dr. Hendrix Odigie, a governance and institutional reform expert, emphasized the need for a comprehensive approach to drive systemic change. This includes effective planning, budgeting, and building institutional frameworks that support women’s empowerment. Central to this is the creation of a data-driven environment where decisions and resources are allocated based on concrete evidence.
Professor Ibeanu highlighted the importance of leadership development programs that address internal challenges faced by women, such as self-doubt, and provide mentorship opportunities. By fostering resilience, empathy, and communication skills, institutions can prepare women to take on leadership roles.
“Promoting institutional change is essential,” Ibeanu said. “We must remove the structural barriers that prevent women from accessing leadership positions, including revisiting policies and creating quotas for women’s participation in leadership.”
Strengthening child protection mechanisms
In Nigeria, children face numerous vulnerabilities ranging from poverty and lack of education to abuse and exploitation. Strengthening child protection mechanisms is essential to ensure their well-being and contribute to national development.
Ugonna Eze-Kwem, a retired Chief Magistrate and Child Rights Expert, highlighted the need for full implementation of the Child Rights Act (CRA) across all states. Although the CRA was enacted in 2003, many states have yet to domesticate and enforce its provisions. Eze-Kwem called for the establishment of Child Rights Implementation Committees and family courts to expedite the handling of child-related cases. She also advocated for the creation of rehabilitation-focused juvenile facilities to prevent the incarceration of children with adults.
Eze-Kwem further stressed the importance of raising awareness and building capacity among law enforcement, social workers, and other stakeholders to ensure that child protection laws are adhered to, with a robust monitoring and evaluation system in place.
Institutionalizing gender-tesponsive budgeting
One of the most effective strategies for advancing gender equality is through gender-responsive budgeting (GRB). This approach ensures that public resources are allocated with consideration of the unique needs of women, men, and other marginalized groups.
Mr. Eze Onyekpere, Lead Director of the Center for Social Justice, emphasized the need to integrate gender-responsive policies into the budget process. Onyekpere suggested that gender-responsive budgeting should be institutionalized in Nigeria’s national planning processes by incorporating gender considerations into budget circulars and using disaggregated data to identify gender disparities in key sectors like education, healthcare, and employment.
“Gender-responsive budgeting can help ensure that the financial resources are aligned with the goal of achieving gender equality and sustainable development,” he said. “Policy advocacy backed by concrete data is crucial in strengthening the case for funding women’s empowerment programs and other gender-sensitive initiatives.”
Promoting disability rights
For Nigeria to achieve sustainable development, it must address the challenges faced by persons with disabilities (PWDs), who encounter significant barriers to accessing essential services such as education, healthcare, and employment. James Lalu emphasized the need to domesticate and enforce the National Disability Act at the state level, as well as establish Disability Rights Commissions to oversee the implementation of disability rights laws.
“Empowering persons with disabilities is not just about protecting their rights, but also about building an inclusive and equitable society,” Lalu said. “Ensuring accessibility in public spaces, including buildings and transportation, is essential. Urban planners must be trained on inclusive design, and businesses should be incentivized for improving accessibility.”
Lalu also advocated for policies that promote inclusive education, equal employment opportunities, and accessible healthcare services, along with public awareness campaigns to reduce stigma and discrimination.
Addressing Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV)
Sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) continues to plague Nigeria, requiring a coordinated and strategic approach. Oluwatoyosi Giwa, Project Manager at Access to Justice, RoLAC Programme, outlined key steps for tackling SGBV, including the development of clear, state-level plans to assess and improve existing response mechanisms.
“The first step is to assess the current systems in place for survivors of SGBV and evaluate their effectiveness,” Giwa said. “We need to ensure that there are adequate resources for these systems, including medical and social support services, as well as specialized courts to handle sexual offences.”
Giwa also called for the establishment of Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) to provide immediate, comprehensive care for survivors of sexual violence. These centres would offer medical, psychological, and legal support to survivors in a safe, trauma-informed environment.
Fostering institutional change
Dr. Abiola Akiode, an advocate for institutional change, emphasized that promoting inclusion and equality requires a shift in policies and attitudes at every level. She stressed the importance of challenging cultural norms that prevent women from taking leadership roles and ensuring that political structures are strengthened to guarantee equal opportunities for women.
“Creating a more inclusive environment involves fostering institutional change,” Akiode said. “This change starts with advocating for policies that support gender-inclusive leadership and empowering women to take on leadership positions in politics and public service.”
Conclusion: A call for collective action
The experts at the conference outlined several key recommendations for achieving sustainable development in Nigeria. Among them were the establishment of Child Protection Committees, Disability Rights Commissions, and Gender-Based Violence Response Units at the state level, the integration of gender data systems into state-level planning, and the allocation of increased budgets for gender programs and social protection schemes.
By fostering institutional change, improving policies, and ensuring inclusive participation at all levels of governance, Nigeria can make significant strides toward creating a more equitable society where all citizens—regardless of gender, age, or ability—can thrive.
With the collaborative efforts of the government, civil society, and other stakeholders, Nigeria can achieve a future where gender equality, child protection, and disability rights are fundamental components of its sustainable development agenda.