…Nigerian women deserve better treatment – Adeleye-Fayemi 

By Gabriel Ewepu

ABUJA – AS women continue to face daunting challenges in representation, gender based violence, and others, Christian Aid Nigeria, Tuesday, declared that achieving gender justice demands collective efforts.

This was stated by the Country Director, Christian Aid Nigeria, Temitope Fashola in an address of welcome at the 2025 Transformative Gender Justice Conference, in Abuja, with the theme ‘March Forward: From Promises to Progress – Advancing the Implementation of the Maputo Protocol’.

Fashola expressed optimism that with the commitment of government, Civil Society Organizations, CSOs and the media, the issues women contend with would be addressed holistically and reduced as he referred to the the Maputu Declaration, while saying it is imperative to reflect on the achievements recorded after the declaration.

The year 2025 marks a significant milestone in the global pursuit of gender equality as it coincides with the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the most progressive global agenda for women’s and girls’ rights. 

In Africa, the Maputo Protocol serves as a key framework for advancing gender justice, covering critical areas such as political participation, economic empowerment, reproductive health rights, and the eradication of gender-based violence and harmful practices.

The 2025 Transformative Gender Justice Conference aimed to convene a diverse range of stakeholders, including faith and traditional leaders, policymakers, civil society organisations, and gender justice advocates, to: Assess the progress, challenges, and opportunities in implementing the aforementioned articles of the Maputo Protocol in Nigeria.

Secure commitments from faith actors and institutions to challenge gender norms and promote justice; Expand and strengthen the governance of the Side-by-Side interfaith movement for gender justice; and Amplify the role of faith-based institutions in addressing gender inequality and socio-economic challenges.

The fourth Transformative Gender Justice Conference was organised by Christian Aid (UK) Nigeria, in collaboration with the Side-by-Side movement and the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), alongside Act Alliance Nigeria, ActionAid Nigeria, Plan International, and the National Coalition on Ending Child Marriage.

He said: “This year’s theme, ‘March Forward: From Promises to Progress – Advancing the Implementation of the Maputo Protocol’, could not be more timely. 

“Over the years, we have seen numerous commitments to gender equality, yet the real challenge remains in turning these commitments into tangible actions that truly benefit women and girls.

“As we reflect on our progress, we must also confront the barriers that persist—gender-based violence, economic exclusion, political underrepresentation, and deep-seated cultural norms that continue to hinder true equality.

“At Christian Aid Nigeria, we firmly believe that gender justice is not an option but a necessity. It is fundamental to achieving sustainable development, fostering social cohesion, and ensuring equity for all. That is why, alongside our partners—the Side-By-Side (SBS) movement, Nigeria, the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (SBS Secretariat), ActionAid Nigeria, Plan International, and the National Coalition on Ending Child Marriage—we continue to work tirelessly to challenge harmful norms, influence policies, and create an enabling environment where every individual, regardless of gender, can thrive.

“While today’s conference in its ambition does not intend to exhaust the required conversations or produce a silver bullet to address Nigeria’s endless gender justice concerns, it presents an opportunity for us to take stock of the progress made in implementing the Maputo Protocol within the context of women’s rights, equality, and empowerment. It is our intention that it contributes to identifying some key challenges that still stand in the way of true gender equality and, most importantly, develop collaborative solutions that will help us move beyond rhetoric towards meaningful action.that will help us move beyond rhetoric towards meaningful action.

“Achieving gender justice requires a collective effort. Governments, civil society, faith-base organizations, traditional institutions, development partners and the media must come together to ensure that legal instruments and policies are not just ratified or enacted but fully implemented. 

“Today, as we engage in discussions, share insights, and strategize for the future, let us remain focused on our common goal: creating a society where gender justice is a reality for all.I am deeply grateful to the Side-by-Side movement Nigeria, and all our esteemed partners for their dedication and collaboration in making this conference possible. 

“And to everyone present today, your commitment to this cause continues to inspire change and drive progress.

“As we continue this journey together, I encourage us all to engage fully, challenge perspectives, and commit to actionable steps that will make a difference. Gender justice is not just a women’s issue—it is a human rights issue that affects us all. 

“The time for action is now, and together, we can ensure that our promises do not remain mere words but become transformative realities in the lives of those we seek to empower.”

Meanwhile, in a keynote address titled ‘Marching Forward on Gender Justice in Nigeria: From Promise to Progress – Advancing the Implementation of the Maputo Protocol’ delivered by the former First Lady of Ekiti State and Founder of Co-founder, African Women’s Development Fund, Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, decried the poor treatment of women in Nigeria while highlighting issues affecting women in Nigeria that are yet to be holistically addressed.

According to Adeleye-Fayemi, the recent global reports and ranking of gender based issues in Nigeria is not encouraging, therefore, she expressed concern over achievement of Sustainable Development Goals, SDG 5 which aims to achieve gender equality by 2030 by ending all forms of discrimination.

She said: “Nigeria currently features poorly on most global indicators measuring Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE); The most recent World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index tracks Economic Participation, Educational  Gap Index(2024), ranks Nigeria 125th/146 (an improvement from 130th out of 146 countries in 2023). The Global Gender Attainment, Health and Survival and Political Leadership. 

“Nigeria has one of the highest maternal and infant mortality rates in the world at 12% of global figures, right after India that has 17%. Nigeria has a 20% prevalence rate of Female Genital; Nigeria ranks 38/160 in the 2023 Global Slavery Index Mutilation Report.

“According to UNICEF, there are approximately 18.3m children out of school in Nigeria and 60% of those are girls. 

“All these issues and more,continue to hinder the progress of Nigerian women due to entrenched patriarchal power and representation of women, endemic sexual and gender-based dimensional poverty, lack of political will, low political social norms, insecurity, conflict and displacement, multi violence and religious and cultural conservatism. 

“Nigerian women are among the better educated and wealthiest yet this has not translated into political power. The level of representation of women in elective positions has gone down during the past four General Elections, 2011, 2015, 2019 and 2023. Nigeria is not only one of the countries of the world with the lowest level of women’s representation in elective office, but also where very little progress has been made in  promoting gender equality.”

However, in her call for action she said, “We all need to be the change we would like to see. Charity begins at home. If we would like to see a difference in the way things are done, let us begin by setting examples for others around us. 

“For those of us who are parents of young children, bring them up differently from the norm. Whatever we learn we want a different outcome for our future the time to begin 

that change is now, otherwise we will have the same faces and can be unlearned and what we do not know can be taught. If voices of tyranny, disrespect and impunity.

“One of the famous sayings of Albert Einstein is that only a mad person does the same thing over and over again and expects a different result.

“Let us raise boys to be responsible men who respect women and are willing to do their fair share of chores and girls who can become phenomenal women who will change the world.

“This is a task for each and everyone of us, regardless of the platforms we occupy. There can be no progress without women’s full and equal participation in society. Everyone benefits if Gender Justice becomes a reality. Nigeria deserves better. Women deserve better. We will be better off if we make this possible.”