As the world celebrates International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025, the Brain Builders Youth Development Initiative (BBYDI) has issued a strong call for immediate action to address gender inequality in Nigeria. The organization is urging the government and key stakeholders to take decisive steps to secure the rights, safety, and empowerment of women and girls across the country.
This year’s IWD theme, “Accelerate Action,” highlights the pressing need for bold and strategic interventions to eliminate systemic barriers that prevent women from fully participating in governance, education, the economy, and society at large. According to a statement signed by Sanni Alausa-Issa, Communications Director of BBYDI, Nigeria must move beyond symbolic gestures and take concrete action to improve the lives of women nationwide.
Gender-Based Violence and Sexual Harassment: A Growing Crisis
BBYDI has expressed serious concerns over the alarming rise in gender-based violence (GBV) and sexual harassment across Nigeria. The organization strongly condemns recent allegations of sexual misconduct in the Nigerian Senate, emphasizing that no institution should be exempt from accountability. The continued delay in the full implementation of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act (2015) across all Nigerian states leaves millions of women without adequate legal protection.
Sexual harassment in workplaces, universities, and political spaces remains widespread, with many victims silenced or blamed. BBYDI is urging the Nigerian government to establish a nationwide GBV reporting and response mechanism to ensure swift investigations, survivor protection, and justice for victims. Without strong enforcement of laws and survivor-centered justice systems, gender-based violence will continue to threaten the safety and dignity of Nigerian women.
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Women’s Economic Empowerment: Breaking Barriers to Financial Inclusion
Women play a significant role in Nigeria’s informal and formal economies, yet they continue to face challenges in accessing finance, business opportunities, and equal pay. BBYDI is advocating for gender-responsive budgeting at all levels of government to provide women entrepreneurs with equal access to funding and business resources. Addressing the gender pay gap and implementing workplace protections are critical steps to achieving economic equity for women.
Additionally, the organization emphasizes the need to expand vocational training programs, especially in rural areas, to equip women with skills that match the demands of the evolving job market. Economic empowerment remains a crucial factor in ensuring women’s independence and long-term security.
Keeping Girls in School and Closing the Digital Gender Gap
Nigeria has one of the highest rates of out-of-school girls in the world, particularly in the North, where child marriage, early pregnancies, and financial barriers continue to deprive young girls of education. BBYDI stresses the urgent need to enforce the Universal Basic Education Act to ensure free and compulsory education for all girls.
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The organization is also calling for expanded digital learning programs through public-private partnerships to close the gender gap in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields. Without access to digital education and technology-driven careers, Nigerian women risk being left behind in an increasingly digital world. Tougher penalties for child marriage and school expulsions based on gender must also be enforced to protect girls’ right to education.
Women in Leadership: The Fight for Political and Corporate Representation
Despite decades of advocacy for gender inclusion in politics and business, women hold less than 10% of political offices—far below the recommended 30% gender quota. BBYDI is calling for legislative reforms to introduce mandatory gender quotas in government positions, ensuring greater representation of women in leadership roles.
To support women entering politics, business, and civil society, the organization is advocating for leadership mentorship programs and increased media accountability to ensure fair representation of women in political discourse. Nigeria cannot achieve true democracy and development without the full inclusion of women in decision-making spaces.
BBYDI’s Commitment to Gender Justice and Women’s Rights
As a leading youth-driven organization, BBYDI is actively working to dismantle barriers and create safe spaces for women and girls. Through policy advocacy, community outreach, and economic empowerment programs, the organization provides legal support and survivor-centered services for GBV victims, runs digital and financial literacy programs, and partners with traditional and religious leaders to shift harmful gender norms.
According to the BBYDI press release signed by Communications Director Sanni Alausa-Issa, the organization urges the Nigerian government, civil society, and the private sector to take immediate and concrete actions that guarantee gender justice, economic fairness, and safety for all Nigerian women and girls.
“This International Women’s Day must be a turning point, not just another ceremonial observance,” the statement concludes.
