Foreign Affairs Ministry Salutes Nigerian Women As The World Celebrates International Women’s Day 2026
On this auspicious occasion of International Women’s Day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is pleased to join the global community in commemorating International Women’s Day 2026 to celebrate Nigerian Women. This year’s theme, “Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls”, as highlighted by the United Nations and UN Women, serves as a powerful call to action. It underscores the urgent need to dismantle persistent barriers, discriminatory laws, inadequate legal protections, harmful social norms, and systemic inequalities that continue to limit the full realization of rights for women and girls worldwide.
In Nigeria, women and girls constitute nearly half of our population and play indispensable roles as drivers of economic growth, social cohesion, peacebuilding, and sustainable development. From the farms and markets in Sabagreia to Azare, Katsina-Ala to Okitipupa, Egini to Godowoli and Okposi to Kaura Namoda, to boardrooms, diplomatic corridors, and homes, Nigerian women demonstrate remarkable resilience, innovation, and leadership. The Federal Government, under the leadership of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, remains steadfast in its commitment to gender equality, women’s empowerment, and the protection of their rights as enshrined in national policies and regional instruments such as the Maputo Protocol, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and international frameworks including the Sustainable Development Goals (particularly Goal 5) and the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
The Government of Nigeria remains steadfast. We continue to advocate for increased women’s representation in decision-making, the elimination of gender-based violence, economic inclusion, and equal access to justice and opportunities, principles that underpin our foreign policy. We reaffirm Nigeria’s dedication to advancing women’s rights through concrete actions: strengthening legal frameworks against gender-based violence, promoting equal access to education, healthcare, economic opportunities, and political participation, and ensuring justice systems are responsive and inclusive.
In our foreign policy anchored on the 4Ds (Demography, Democracy, Development and Diaspora), Nigeria continues to champion these principles on the global stage, advocating for multilateral cooperation to address the root causes of inequality and to support women in conflict-affected and vulnerable settings.
Therefore, as we commemorate 2026 International Women’s Day, the Ministry celebrate the achievements of Nigerian women and girls at home and in the diaspora, while renewing our resolve to translate commitments into tangible progress. Let us all, government institutions, civil society, private sector partners, and the international community unite in urgent, collective action to ensure that every woman and girl enjoys her full rights, receives justice without discrimination, and thrives in dignity and equality.
Happy International Women’s Day 2026!
Signed:
Kimiebi Imomotimi Ebienfa, anipr
Spokesperson
Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Abuja
Sunday, 8 March 2026
