By Nnamdi Ojiego

As the world marks International Women’s Day 2026 today, under the theme, “Give to Gain,” a quiet but steady movement continues across Nigeria. In different sectors, women are investing their skills, time and influence to widen opportunities for others. The gains may not always be immediate, but they often ripple outward, creating space for younger women and girls to thrive.

From security and film to advocacy and professional development, the work of Tanwa Ashiru, Imoh Eboh, Yemisi Ransome-Kuti and Jocelyn Ademiluyi, among others, illustrates how purposeful service can translate into lasting impact.

Opening the security space

In Nigeria’s traditionally male-dominated security and risk management field, Ashiru has built both credibility and access pathways for women.

As founder of Bulwark Intelligence Solutions and a former United States Air Force intelligence analyst, she operates at the intersection of enterprise security and strategic risk advisory. Beyond the corporate environment, she has devoted considerable attention to mentorship and professional exposure for women through the Women in Security initiative of ASIS International.

“Our Women in Security initiative seeks to ensure women in Nigeria can tap into available development resources while providing inspiration, networking, leadership development and mentorship,” Ashiru noted while speaking on efforts to broaden female participation in the industry.

For many young professionals, security careers remain poorly understood. Ashiru’s advocacy has helped challenge that perception, highlighting opportunities in intelligence analysis, cyber risk, investigations and enterprise risk management.

Her philosophy reflects the spirit behind this year’s International Women’s Day theme. As she has often stressed, “Success has no gender. Focus, resilience and undaunted zeal make the difference.”

Telling women’s stories on screen

In the creative sector, Eboh is contributing to the conversation from a different angle. As producer of the film 28 Days, she joins a growing number of Nigerian women moving beyond acting roles into decision-making positions in storytelling and production.

The film confronts lingering social taboos surrounding menstruation and women’s health, topics that have often remained hidden within many communities.

“Many years ago, menstruation was seen as unclean. But it is a normal, healthy part of being a woman,” Eboh explained while discussing the motivation behind the project.

For her, the film represents more than entertainment

“28 Days is more than a film. It’s a cultural intervention, a call to break the silence and celebrate womanhood,” she said.

Protecting the girl child

If Eboh’s work speaks through storytelling, Ransome-Kuti’s advocacy focuses on community engagement and protection for vulnerable girls.

Through her Girl Watch initiative, the activist has spent years drawing attention to the everyday risks confronting adolescent girls, from abuse and neglect to limited educational opportunities. The programme runs school outreaches, community awareness sessions and mentorship engagements designed to strengthen the support network around young girls.

Her approach emphasises collective responsibility. As she once observed while speaking about the importance of solidarity among young women, “As girls, we will grow into womanhood. We must stick together. There is nothing more important than that.”

Her work reflects the long tradition of social activism associated with the Ransome-Kuti family while addressing contemporary realities facing the Nigerian girl child.

Creating opportunities through connection

At the professional development level, Ademiluyi is advancing similar ideals through Honeycedars Impact, an initiative that convenes business leaders, corporate organisations and emerging professionals for conversations around business growth, leadership and personal development.

For Ademiluyi, the goal is to create opportunities for others while building bridges across industries, sectors and professional networks. Through Honeycedars Impact, she brings together professionals from different sectors, creating a platform where meaningful connections can lead to collaboration, mentorship and career advancement.

In line with this year’s theme, the initiative encourages professionals to share knowledge, experience and access, recognising that when opportunities are extended to others, the benefits multiply across the wider business landscape.

Multiplier effect

Across these different sectors, a common pattern emerges. Each of these women is contributing in ways that extend beyond personal success. Their efforts open doors, change perceptions and create opportunities for others.

This year’s theme captures this principle clearly. Progress for women rarely happens by accident; it grows from deliberate investments made by individuals who choose to mentor, advocate, educate and create.

In Nigeria today, such investments are gradually reshaping professional spaces, cultural narratives and support systems. And as more women step forward to give their expertise and influence, the gains are likely to extend far beyond the present moment