The Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa has urged the Federal Government and state authorities to strengthen protections and implement more inclusive policies that support Nigerian women, as the world commemorates the International Women’s Day 2026.
In a statement released at the weekend, CAPPA said the theme for this year’s celebration, “Give to Gain,” highlights the crucial role women play in sustaining families, communities and the wider economy despite facing persistent inequalities.
According to the organisation, women across Nigeria continue to bear a significant share of responsibilities within households and communities, including managing family resources, caring for children and relatives, and supporting family survival amid challenging economic conditions. However, it noted that many women and girls still lack access to essential services required for a dignified life, including safe water, sanitation, healthcare and education.
CAPPA also expressed concern over the continued prevalence of gender-based violence in the country. Referencing the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, the group said about 31 percent of Nigerian women aged between 15 and 49 have experienced physical violence, while around nine percent have suffered sexual violence at some point in their lives. It further revealed that more than 10,326 cases of gender-based violence were reported between January and September 2025.
The organisation also raised alarm over the growing incidents of femicide, noting that civil society organisations and advocates have repeatedly called on authorities to treat the killing of women as a national emergency and strengthen preventive and accountability measures.
CAPPA said economic inequality remains another major challenge affecting women, pointing to data from the National Bureau of Statistics which shows that many women are concentrated in low-income and informal sectors where job security and social protection are limited. It added that women farmers, traders and small-scale entrepreneurs often face difficulties accessing credit, land and other resources needed to expand their livelihoods, while rising living costs further intensify the burden on women responsible for household welfare.
The group also highlighted the low level of women’s representation in Nigeria’s political decision-making. According to CAPPA, women currently occupy only about 3.9 percent of legislative seats in the National Assembly of Nigeria, one of the lowest rates globally. Out of 469 members of the National Assembly, only 19 are women—15 in the House of Representatives and four in the Senate.
It added that Nigeria ranks 180th out of 185 countries in the Inter-Parliamentary Union ranking for women’s parliamentary representation, making it the lowest-ranked country in Sub-Saharan Africa. Even women who have attained leadership positions, CAPPA noted, often face sexism, exclusion and attempts to undermine their contributions in male-dominated political spaces.
The organisation said these realities reveal a stark contradiction in Nigerian society, where women contribute significantly to social and economic development but still operate within systems that fail to guarantee their safety, health, political participation and economic security.
CAPPA emphasised that the “Give to Gain” theme should serve as a call for accountability, urging governments at all levels to acknowledge women’s contributions by creating conditions that allow them to live and lead with dignity.
Among its recommendations, the organisation called for increased investment in public services such as water supply, healthcare, sanitation and education.
It also urged authorities to strengthen laws and enforcement mechanisms to prevent and address gender-based violence, while safeguarding civic space for women leaders, activists and organisers to carry out their work without intimidation.
The group further advocated measures to address the unequal burden of unpaid care work through policies such as affordable childcare, paid family leave and infrastructure improvements that reduce time poverty for women. It also called for gender-responsive budgeting, improved access to credit for women entrepreneurs and policies aimed at closing the gender pay gap.
On political participation, CAPPA said legislative initiatives like the proposed Special Seats for Women Bill could significantly boost women’s representation in governance and ensure that women’s perspectives are better reflected in national policymaking. It therefore urged lawmakers to expedite the passage of the bill.
Reaffirming its commitment to advancing women’s rights, CAPPA said it would continue to work with women across Nigeria who are organising around critical social and economic issues.
The organisation added that women’s leadership at community levels continues to demonstrate that when women mobilise and organise, societies move closer to justice and sustainable development.
CAPPA concluded that meaningful progress for Nigeria depends on recognising and reciprocating the contributions of women, stressing that investing in women’s rights remains essential to building a just and inclusive future for all citizens.