The civil society organisation Corporate Accountability and Public Participation Africa (CAPPA) has called on the Federal and state governments to strengthen protections for women and adopt more inclusive policies as the world marks the International Women’s Day 2026.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the organisation said the theme for this year’s commemoration, “Give to Gain,” highlights the immense contributions women make to families, communities and the national economy, often without adequate recognition or support.
CAPPA noted that women across Nigeria continue to shoulder a significant share of the labour that sustains households and communities, including managing family resources and providing care for children and relatives, particularly in the face of rising economic hardship.
“Across the country, women keep families afloat despite difficult economic conditions, yet many still lack access to basic services and protections necessary for a dignified life,” the group said.
Limited access to essential services
The organisation observed that millions of Nigerian women and girls still struggle to access essential services such as safe water, sanitation, healthcare and quality education. According to CAPPA, these gaps undermine women’s well-being and limit opportunities for social and economic advancement.
The group also expressed concern over the prevalence of gender-based violence in the country.
Citing figures from the Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, CAPPA said about 31 per cent of Nigerian women aged between 15 and 49 have experienced physical violence, while approximately nine per cent have experienced sexual violence at some point in their lives.
It further disclosed that more than 10,326 cases of gender-based violence were recorded between January and September 2025, describing the trend as alarming and urging urgent action from authorities.
“Women continue to give so much to sustain society, yet many remain trapped in systems that fail to guarantee their safety, health, political participation and economic security,” the statement said.
Concern over femicide and safety
CAPPA also raised concerns over increasing cases of femicide, noting that civil society groups and advocates have repeatedly called on authorities to treat the killing of women as a national emergency and strengthen prevention and accountability mechanisms.
Economic inequality persists
Beyond safety concerns, the organisation said economic inequality remains a major challenge for women in Nigeria.
Data from the National Bureau of Statistics indicates that women are more likely to work in low-income or informal sectors where job security and social protection are limited.
According to CAPPA, women farmers, traders and small-scale entrepreneurs face significant barriers in accessing credit, land and other resources required to grow their businesses, while rising living costs continue to place additional burdens on women who manage household welfare.
Low representation in politics
The organisation also highlighted the low level of women’s representation in Nigeria’s political decision-making.
CAPPA noted that women currently occupy only about 3.9 per cent of legislative seats in the country. Out of the 469 members of the National Assembly of Nigeria, only 19 are women—15 in the House of Representatives of Nigeria and four in the Senate of Nigeria.
According to CAPPA, Nigeria ranks 180 out of 185 countries in the global ranking by the Inter-Parliamentary Union for women’s parliamentary representation, placing it at the bottom among countries in Sub-Saharan Africa.
“Even the few women who have broken through into political leadership still face sexism, exclusion and attempts to undermine their contributions in male-dominated political spaces,” the statement added.
Calls for reforms and investment
The organisation said the theme “Give to Gain” should serve as a call for accountability, urging governments at all levels to recognise women’s contributions by creating conditions that allow them to live and lead with dignity.
CAPPA called for increased investment in public services such as water supply, healthcare, sanitation and education, alongside stronger laws and enforcement mechanisms to prevent and respond to gender-based violence.
It also emphasised the need to protect civic space so that women leaders, organisers and advocates can carry out their work without intimidation.
The group further recommended policies to address the unequal burden of unpaid care work, including affordable childcare, paid family leave and improved infrastructure that reduces the time women spend on domestic responsibilities.
In addition, CAPPA advocated gender-responsive budgeting, improved access to credit for women entrepreneurs and policies aimed at closing the gender pay gap.
Push for Special Seats Bill
On political participation, the organisation said legislative reforms such as the proposed Special Seats for Women Bill could help increase women’s representation and strengthen their role in shaping national policies.
CAPPA therefore urged lawmakers to expedite the passage of the bill.
“As we reflect on the theme ‘Give to Gain,’ true progress for Nigeria lies in recognising and reciprocating the contributions of its women,” the organisation said.
“Investing in women’s rights remains fundamental to building a just and sustainable future for all Nigerians.”