By Miracle Adebayo
Activities across media organizations and advocacy groups on March 8 marked the global celebration of International Women’s Day, observed worldwide this year with the popular hashtag #GiveToGain.
The day was commemorated through various initiatives designed to celebrate women, highlight their contributions, and draw attention to the ongoing push for gender equality and empowerment.
International Women’s Day is a global observance dedicated to recognizing women’s achievements while addressing persistent challenges affecting women’s rights. The annual event, which has been observed for more than a century and recognized by the United Nations, highlights women’s contributions across social, economic, cultural, and political spheres.
It also serves as a platform to spotlight issues such as gender discrimination, unequal access to education and employment, gender-based violence, and the underrepresentation of women in leadership positions.
This year’s commemoration brought together governments, civil society groups, advocacy organizations, and communities to reflect on progress made in advancing women’s rights while renewing commitments to close existing gender gaps. Activities ranged from conferences and public discussions to community outreach
programmes, advocacy campaigns, and social media engagement aimed at promoting inclusion and equal opportunities for women and girls.
Among the initiatives recorded was a collaboration between Naija Feminist Media and the Development for Underserved Communities (DUC) Foundation in Abuja. The partnership supported petty traders in the Kubwa community with 7,000 packaging materials to assist their small-scale businesses.
In a related development, the Plateau State branch of the National Human Rights Commission released a video highlighting the significance of women’s roles in society. The production documented women’s experiences across various sectors, portraying both the challenges they face and the resilience they demonstrate in contributing to community development.
Another initiative launched on the day was a 15-day awareness campaign for the SHE AI Africa International Women’s Day 2026 initiative. The campaign, titled “15 Days – AASWR,” began on March 8 and is scheduled to run until March 22, 2026. The programme is designed as a rights-centred intervention examining how artificial intelligence systems influence women’s access to justice, economic participation, safety, and governance across Africa. The campaign will feature daily thematic engagement, ecosystem mobilisation, and policy-oriented discussions.
Speaking on the significance of the day, advocates emphasized that the celebration goes beyond recognition and serves as a call for sustained advocacy. While progress has been recorded in areas such as education, political participation, and workplace inclusion, experts note that many women still face systemic barriers that limit their opportunities.
Under the theme “Give to Gain,” this year’s initiatives focused on providing women with resources, opportunities, education, visibility, and support. Advocates say such investments strengthen communities, support economic growth, and advance gender justice.
As part of the celebration, Naija Feminist Media led a petty traders’ empowerment outreach targeting grassroots women who depend on small-scale trading for their livelihoods. Ten petty traders benefited from the initiative, including women who sell local foods such as plantains and akara, fruits such as bananas, and drinks such as kunu.
Officials from the NHRC Plateau State branch also shared messages emphasizing the importance of investing in women. Mrs. Ronke Moody, Deputy Director of Public Relations at the commission, stated that investment in women produces wider societal gains. Their message highlighted the contributions of women across sectors including architecture, engineering, lecturing, property and land management, agriculture, market trading, quarry work, government service, and education.
Mrs. Ronke Moody, Deputy Director of Public Relations at the National Human Rights Commission, noted that investment in women brings greater societal gains. Their message highlighted the contributions of women across diverse sectors, including architecture, engineering, lecturing, property and land management, agriculture, market trading, quarry work, government service, and education.
Dr. Kiyenpya Mafuyai, Plateau State Coordinator and Director of Legal at the National Human Rights Commission, also encouraged the public to support initiatives that promote women’s empowerment, reinforcing the message of “Give to Gain.”
At its core, the observance of the 2026 International Women’s day seeks to amplify women’s voices, acknowledge their contributions to society, and encourage collective efforts to build a world where women and men enjoy equal rights, opportunities, and respect. As the global community marked the day, the message remained clear: empowering women is not only a matter of justice but also a critical step toward sustainable development and social progress.
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