By Palma Ileye
Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, FMWASD, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim has called on African women to celebrate their achievements, strengthen unity, and build stronger partnerships with men to accelerate gender equality and national development.
Speaking at the 2026 Pan-African Women’s Day celebration held Friday in Abuja, Sulaiman-Ibrahim said African women had made remarkable progress over the years despite persistent challenges, urging them to embrace gratitude while remaining committed to advancing women’s rights across the continent.
She said women should not allow present-day challenges to overshadow the significant milestones already achieved.
Drawing inspiration from African heroines such as Queen Amina of Zazzau and Moremi Ajasoro, the Minister said African women have a rich history of courage, resilience and leadership that should continue to inspire future generations.
“We have come a long way. Yes, we still face challenges, but we have every reason to be grateful. Gratitude brings greater blessings,” she said.
She stressed that achieving gender equality requires the active support of men, describing positive masculinity as critical to advancing women’s rights and national development.
According to her, many men have supported women throughout history, while several lawmakers are already backing gender-related legislation, with others willing to support once adequately engaged.
“This is no longer merely a conversation about gender equality. It is a conversation about national development,” she said.
She also commended media organisations for consistently amplifying the voices of women and supporting campaigns for greater investment in women and girls.
Speaking on this year’s celebration, the Minister said the event marked Nigeria’s first official commemoration of Pan-African Women’s Day, tracing its origins to the establishment of the Pan-African Women’s Organization (PAWO) in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in 1962.
She said the Nigerian theme, “We Rise as One: One Voice, One Legacy, One Africa – The Power of Oneness,” reflects the country’s commitment to promoting unity among women across ethnic, religious and political divides.
Highlighting the achievements of the Federal Government under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, she said the administration had placed gender equality and women’s empowerment at the centre of Nigeria’s development agenda through policies, legal reforms and economic empowerment initiatives.
According to her, government has launched the National Gender Profile and the Gender Roadmap to 2030, finalised dozens of legal frameworks to strengthen protection for women and girls, expanded responses to gender-based violence, and introduced policies such as the National Crèche Policy to improve childcare services while creating economic opportunities.
She added that programmes including the Nigeria for Women Project and other interventions were helping women access finance, markets, digital tools and business opportunities, shifting government support from handouts to sustainable economic empowerment.
She also highlighted efforts to revive Women’s Political Empowerment Offices across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones to mentor and prepare more women for elective and appointive offices.
Calling for stronger continental collaboration, she urged African governments to ratify and implement the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, fully domesticate the Maputo Protocol, allocate at least 30 per cent of national budgets to gender-responsive programmes, remove barriers to women’s leadership, prioritise women in climate action and food security, and fully implement the UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
She noted that Nigeria has already launched its Third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security, reaffirming the country’s commitment to placing women at the centre of peacebuilding and conflict prevention.
The Minister said women now occupy nearly half of chief executive positions in Nigeria’s commercial banking sector and more than 30 per cent of corporate board chairmanships, demonstrating that women excel when given opportunities.
She urged African women to remain united, celebrate one another’s successes and continue building a continent where every woman was empowered and every girl has the opportunity to realise her full potential.
Earlier, the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, described the celebration as a historic moment for Africa.
Welcoming delegates from across the continent, she said the event marked the first official annual commemoration of Pan-African Women’s Day in Abuja and honoured the legacy of the women who founded the Pan-African Women’s Organisation in 1962.
Using the Centre’s newly unveiled sculpture, “Omalicha,” as a symbol of African women’s resilience, Benjamins-Laniyi said the artwork represents women who have been shaped by struggle, sacrifice and perseverance but continue to rise stronger.
She said the week-long celebration featured dialogues on women’s economic empowerment, health, leadership, home ownership, gender equality and implementation of the African Union Convention on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls.
The DG paid tribute to former First Lady Maryam Babangida for her contributions to women’s development in Nigeria and called on governments, development partners, traditional institutions and the private sector to translate commitments into concrete actions that improve the lives of women across Africa.
She urged participants to ensure that the resolutions reached during the celebration move beyond speeches and become practical actions in communities across the continent.
Speaking at the event, the Chairperson of the African Union and the President of Burundi, Évariste Ndayishimiye who was represented by the Ambassador of Burundi to Nigeria, Edouard Nduwimana, urged African women to remain at the forefront of promoting unity, peace, youth empowerment and sustainable development across the continent.
Nduwimana said President Ndayishimiye highly values initiatives that strengthen African unity and women’s leadership, encouraging participants to continue serving as a strong voice for the transformation of Africa.
He also announced that, in his capacity as the African Union Champion for Youth, Peace and Security, President Ndayishimiye had invited participants to the Continental Dialogue on Youth, Peace and Security scheduled to hold in Bujumbura, Burundi, from August 10 to 12.
He disclosed that this year’s edition would feature a special Women’s Forum in recognition of the critical role women play in promoting peace and building resilient communities across Africa.
He noted that Africa continues to grapple with geopolitical tensions, insecurity, internal conflicts, climate change and the growing aspirations of its youthful population, stressing that the continent’s future depends on unity, solidarity and collective action.
He described the theme, “We Rise As One: One Voice, One Legacy, One Africa,” as timely and relevant, while commending Nigerian women and women across Africa for their outstanding contributions to the continent’s development and urging them to continue working together to build a lasting legacy for future generations.
