The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria has renewed calls for stronger collaborative efforts among government institutions, development partners, community leaders and justice-sector actors to advance gender justice, equity and inclusive development across the country.
FIDA Country Vice-President and National President, Mrs Eliana Martins, made the appeal on Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC) in Lagos.
The conference, themed “Bridging Gaps, Building the Future: Women’s Rights, Justice and Sustainable Development in Nigeria,” brought together lawyers, policymakers, development experts and gender advocates to reflect on the state of women’s rights in Nigeria and pathways to lasting reforms.
In her welcome address, Martins stressed that decisive action had become necessary as systemic discrimination, entrenched social norms and weak enforcement of protective laws continued to endanger vulnerable groups, particularly women, children, and individuals with disabilities.
According to her, although progress had been recorded recently, gaps in justice administration and inconsistent application of gender-protection laws such as the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) and the Child Rights Act remained widespread.
“The need for stronger, coordinated action on gender justice cannot be overemphasized. We urge agencies responsible for justice administration to act decisively because FIDA Nigeria will continue to work toward strengthening justice systems and community structures that safeguard the vulnerable,” Martins said.
She commended the four Lagos branches of FIDA for their commitment to service, noting that their interventions had helped expand access to legal aid, community sensitisation and advocacy for women and children.
Martins also highlighted major achievements recorded under the Ford Foundation-supported Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention Project.
She explained that the initiative had improved collaboration among traditional, religious and government leaders in Lagos, Ekiti and Plateau states, enhancing collective responses to GBV and promoting preventive measures at community level.
The FIDA President further cited notable gains from the UN Women’s Political Participation (WPP) project, which supported policy development, stakeholder engagement and public advocacy for women’s political inclusion.
She said the project secured over 135,000 public endorsements, showing an increasing national appetite for gender-balanced governance.
Despite these achievements, Martins warned that widespread gender-based violence, persistent sociocultural barriers and poor implementation of gender-protection laws still threatened the safety and advancement of women. She expressed hope that this year’s conference would generate new strategies to enhance legal protection, strengthen institutional accountability and support women’s empowerment across sectors.
Delivering the keynote address, Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSG), Mrs. Abimbola Salu-Hudeyin, reaffirmed that women remain central to building equitable and prosperous societies.
She lamented that women still face limited access to justice, land ownership, capital and other opportunities due to entrenched gender bias.
“Closing these gaps requires deliberate government action, strong institutions and sustained advocacy from legal professionals, policymakers and development partners,” she said.
Salu-Hudeyin noted that while legal frameworks exist to protect women’s rights, more effort is needed to ensure these protections translate into real, practical benefits.
She explained that Lagos State had continued to champion gender inclusion by prioritising education, healthcare, social protection and economic empowerment programmes for women and girls.
She urged legal practitioners to challenge discriminatory practices, support emerging female leaders and strengthen systems that allow women to thrive.
The SSG also called for deeper collaboration between government agencies, the judiciary, FIDA and development partners to transform gender justice into a lived reality for all.
Also speaking, the Attorney-General of Lagos State and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), emphasised the need for equal representation of women in policymaking processes nationwide.
He maintained that national development would remain incomplete without women’s full participation and influence.
Pedro urged government institutions to intentionally provide young female lawyers and professionals with opportunities, resources, and platforms that empower them to contribute meaningfully to national decisions.
He said gender equality was not only a moral imperative but also an economic necessity, stressing that inclusive governance leads to stronger communities and better policy outcomes.
According to him, strengthening data systems, building institutional capacity and closing gaps that undermine women’s representation must become priority areas for government at all levels.
In her goodwill message, former Country Vice-President of FIDA and life member of FIDA International, Mrs Marlies Allan, emphasised the need to empower Nigerian women with leadership skills, emotional intelligence and confidence.
Allan noted that despite significant progress, women still contend with gender bias, stereotypes and limited opportunities, which often hinder their aspirations. She said targeted support systems, such as mentoring, networking, continuous learning and institutional encouragement—were essential to help women overcome these barriers.
“Celebrating women achievers plays a crucial role in motivating others and driving positive change,” Allan added.
She urged women to embrace self-advocacy, build resilience and position themselves for leadership across sectors.
Allan also stressed the importance of male allies in advancing gender equality, noting that men play a crucial role in challenging bias, promoting fairness and supporting work-life balance initiatives.
Expressing concern over the low representation of women in Nigeria’s political landscape, Allan described the situation as a major setback to national development.
She called for sustained advocacy, courage and collective effort to secure increased female participation in governance and decision-making.
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