As gender equality conversations evolve across Africa, one truth stands out: without intentional inclusion, the most vulnerable are left behind.
This reality took centre stage at Nigeria’s International Women’s Day 2026 (IWD 2026) national dialogue, convened by UN Women Nigeria, UNAIDS Nigeria, and the National Agency for the Control of AIDS. Held under the theme “Rights, Justice, Action for Women & Girls with Special Needs in Nigeria,” the gathering brought together policymakers, development partners, and community voices to confront a pressing issue: the systemic barriers facing women who exist at the intersections of vulnerability.
While progress has been made in advancing women’s rights, the dialogue underscored a critical gap—many frameworks still fail to reach those most in need. Elderly women, women living with HIV, and women with disabilities continue to face compounded discrimination that limits their access to healthcare, justice systems, and economic opportunities.
At the heart of the discussions was a call to rethink how inclusion is defined and implemented. Representing the UN system, Beatrice Eyong emphasised that equality frameworks must prioritise those experiencing multiple and intersecting forms of discrimination. Generic policy approaches, she argued, are no longer sufficient. Instead, policies must be grounded in the lived realities of women—reflecting their diverse identities, challenges, and needs.
From Policy to Practice: The Role of Government
In a keynote address, Doris Uzoka-Anite reaffirmed the Nigerian government’s commitment to inclusive budgeting and national planning. She highlighted social protection systems as a critical lever for sustainable development, particularly for populations that remain economically and socially excluded.
This emphasis on inclusive policy design signals a broader shift—from acknowledging inequality to actively restructuring systems to address it.
A representative from the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, Nigeria, offered a striking metaphor, describing vulnerable women as the “phantom at the margins of progress.” The phrase captured the paradox of visibility without inclusion—where women are recognised in discourse but remain excluded in practice.
Shifting Social Norms: A Collective Responsibility
Beyond policy, the dialogue highlighted the importance of transforming community and cultural dynamics.
Boonto Krittayawadee called for a more proactive role from traditional leaders and the media in challenging harmful social norms. She stressed the need to expand entrepreneurship opportunities for women, particularly those living with HIV, as a pathway to dignity, independence, and long-term resilience.
Her remarks reinforced a key point: sustainable change requires both institutional reform and societal transformation.
One of the most powerful moments of the dialogue came from the testimonies shared by women themselves—women living with HIV, women with disabilities, and elderly women whose daily realities often remain invisible in policy spaces.
Their stories moved the conversation beyond statistics, offering a human lens on structural inequality. They spoke of barriers to healthcare, stigma within communities, limited access to economic opportunities, and the resilience required to navigate these challenges.
These voices served as a reminder that effective solutions must be co-created with those most affected.
From Dialogue to Action
As the event concluded, stakeholders aligned on a shared priority: translating dialogue into tangible policy and programmatic action.
This includes strengthening justice systems, expanding inclusive healthcare access, investing in social protection, and designing economic programmes that intentionally target women at the margins.
The IWD 2026 dialogue did more than highlight gaps—it reframed the conversation. It challenged institutions to move beyond broad commitments and instead design targeted, responsive, and inclusive systems.
True progress is not measured by how far we have come, but by who we bring along.
Nigeria’s IWD 2026 dialogue serves as a timely reminder that gender equality must be intersectional, intentional, and deeply rooted in lived realities. Only then can policies move from performative inclusion to transformative impact.
Because when the most vulnerable women are seen, heard, and empowered—societies do not just progress, they thrive.
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