As the world celebrates International Women’s Day 2025, Hon. Rinsola Abiola emphasizes the need to accelerate action for gender equality. Abiola stresses that celebrating women’s day is not just about reflection, but also about taking concrete steps towards achieving gender parity. Her office focuses on civic education, leadership development, and youth development, with a particular emphasis on citizenship and leadership, underscoring the importance of establishing a link between gender equality and citizenship.
Women continue to face significant barriers to leadership, including cultural and social norms, legal and political challenges, and economic limitations. In Nigeria, women’s representation in the National Assembly stands at a mere 3.9%, highlighting the need for greater inclusion. To address these challenges, Abiola advocates for policy interventions that promote gender inclusion, such as the Extra Seats Bill, which aimed to increase women’s representation in leadership.
Abiola emphasizes the importance of investing in mentorship and capacity building to prepare more women for leadership, enhancing citizenship education and awareness to promote gender-inclusive policies, collaborating with men and boys as allies in the pursuit of gender equality, and leveraging media and advocacy to push for policy changes and social acceptance.
To achieve gender equality, it’s essential to acknowledge the reality of the current situation, assess the organization’s current state, address unconscious bias, shift mindsets, develop the right skills, shift behaviors, and promote representation. This includes implementing equitable recruitment and hiring practices, supporting work-life integration, providing mentorship and sponsorship programs, and promoting equal pay.
Ultimately, Abiola’s message is clear: gender equality is not just a women’s issue, but a national and global imperative. She urges everyone to work together to accelerate action on women’s empowerment and gender equality.
