2026 IWD: Anambra and Ogun Champion Women’s Empowerment for Progress

Recognition of Women’s Contributions on International Women’s Day

The Governor of Anambra State, Chukwuma Soludo, has expressed his admiration for women in the state and across Nigeria on the occasion of the 2026 International Women’s Day. He acknowledged their vital role as key drivers of development and progress.

In a goodwill message shared through his Press Secretary, Christian Aburime, Soludo highlighted the theme for this year’s celebration, “Give to Gain,” which marks the 115th anniversary of International Women’s Day. He described the theme as a call to shift from charity and dependency towards strategic investment in women, aiming for collective prosperity.

Soludo emphasized that providing women with equal opportunities, access to capital, and roles in decision-making leads to a multiplier effect, benefiting families, communities, and the state as a whole. He pointed out several initiatives under his administration, including:

• The “One Youth, Two Skills” program, aimed at equipping young people with essential skills.
• Financial inclusion initiatives designed to support economic empowerment.
• Support for micro, small, and medium enterprises, fostering entrepreneurship among women.
• Free quality education for the girl-child, ensuring long-term educational benefits.
• Political inclusion of women in strategic government positions, promoting gender equity.

“The Anambra State government has moved beyond rhetoric to ensure women are not just beneficiaries of development, but are the drivers of it,” Soludo stated. He further noted, “In Anambra, a woman’s gain is indeed the family’s gain, the community’s gain, and the state’s ultimate gain.”

Ogun State’s Commitment to Women’s Empowerment

Meanwhile, the Commissioner for the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in Ogun State, Motunrayo Adeleye, reiterated her state government’s commitment to investing in women as a pathway to sustainable development. In a Sunday statement, she emphasized the importance of empowering women through access to education, financial resources, and mentorship, noting that when women thrive, families, communities, and economies grow stronger.

Adeleye highlighted several initiatives currently underway, including:

• The social empowerment scheme “Oko’owo Dapo,” which focuses on supporting women through various developmental programs.
• The World Bank-supported Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up Programme, implemented in Ifo, Ado-Odo/Ota, Sagamu, and Ijebu-Ode Local Government Areas.

She stressed that supporting women should not be seen as charity but as a deliberate investment with measurable returns for society. These interventions have expanded financial inclusion, enterprise support, and capacity development for women, with more initiatives planned to consolidate the gains made since the start of this administration.

Adeleye encouraged women across Ogun State to remain resilient, innovative, and supportive of one another while reiterating the state’s commitment to advancing policies and programs that promote gender equity and protect women’s rights.