IWD 2026: Orelope-Adefulire urges greater investment in women, girls

The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has called for increased investment in women and girls as a critical pathway to achieving sustainable development in Nigeria.

Orelope-Adefulire made the call on Saturday in Abuja while commemorating International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026, joining the global community in celebrating the achievements, resilience, and contributions of women to national and global development.

The 2026 celebration is themed “Give To Gain,” a call for individuals, governments, and institutions to invest more resources, opportunities, and support in women and girls in order to unlock broader societal progress.

According to a statement released by her Special Assistant on Media, Publicity and Strategy, Desmond Utomwen, the presidential aide noted that empowering women remains central to the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 5, which focuses on gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls. She further noted that progress in gender equality has a multiplier effect across other development priorities, including poverty reduction, education, health, economic growth and social inclusion.

“International Women’s Day reminds us that empowering women and girls is not just a moral obligation but a development imperative,” Orelope-Adefulire said.

“The theme ‘Give To Gain’ reinforces the reality that every investment made in women and girls yields significant benefits for families, communities, and nations.”

She also highlighted the commitment of the Federal Government under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to strengthening gender inclusion, expanding economic opportunities for women, and promoting social protection programmes that benefit vulnerable groups.

According to a statement released by her Special Assistant on Media, Publicity and Strategy, the administration’s policies and programmes aimed at inclusive growth and human capital development are helping to create more opportunities for women across different sectors of the economy.

Orelope-Adefulire explained that gender equality is a cross-cutting driver across the entire 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, noting that no country can achieve sustainable development without the full participation of women.

“From education and health to economic empowerment and leadership, the role of women is indispensable in building a resilient and prosperous society,” she added.

The SSAP-SDGs further reiterated its commitment to advancing gender responsive development initiatives across Nigeria through its coordination of SDGs implementation and partnerships with government institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, and the private sector. The Office, she said, has continued to support community-based interventions, empowerment programmes, and strategic initiatives aimed at improving the livelihoods of women and girls across the country. She therefore called for stronger collaboration among stakeholders to accelerate progress in gender equality and women empowerment.

“Achieving the SDGs requires a whole of society approach. Governments, private sector organisations, civil society groups, and citizens must all play their part in creating opportunities for women and girls to thrive,” she said.

Orelope-Adefulire also encouraged Nigerian women and girls to continue breaking barriers, pursuing excellence, and contributing meaningfully to national development in sectors such as governance, entrepreneurship, science, technology, media, and the creative industry.

She stressed that building an inclusive society where women have equal opportunities will strengthen Nigeria’s development trajectory.

International Women’s Day is celebrated globally on March 8 every year to recognise the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women while also advocating for accelerated action towards gender equality.