As usual, International Women’s day is celebrated world-wide on March 8 and the 2016 edition was celebrated at the National Women centre, Abuja. The event was graced by stakeholders including prominent women, representatives of government parastatals, civil society organizations and International agencies who all pledged to continue the push for gender equality.
The event was anchored by veteran broadcaster, Mrs. Moji Makanjuola and hosted by the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, United Nation Women, Nigeria and the European Union. The roll call at the ceremony included, the Hon. Minister for Women Affairs and Social Development, Sen. Aisha Alhassan, Representative of the Chairperson, Senate committee on women Affairs, Senator Fatimah Raji Rasaki, Head of UN missions in Nigeria, Fatma Samoura, UN Women representative in Nigeria, Dr. Grace Ongile, UN Women, Nigeria Good-will Ambassador and Wife of the Minister of Solid Minerals, Mrs. Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, Minister counsellor of European Union, Pauline Torehall and representatives from various embassies and parastatals.
Sen. Aisha Alhassan who delivered a speech on behalf of the Nigerian President, Muhammadu Buhari to women and also in her capacity as the Minister of women affairs, informed that the administration is well grounded in the understanding that the success of the ‘Change’ mantra also relies on adequate attention to the attainment of gender equality. She stated that government everywhere must address inequalities such as the present global situation where women earn 24% less than men, and only 50% of the world’s working age women are in the labour force compared to 75% of men. In her words ‘Gender Equality doesn’t mean being ‘equal’ to men but having equal rights and opportunities with men in employment, education and other privileges’.

She pledged in her capacity as the Minister for Women Affairs and social development the revamping and institutionalization of the National gender policy to reflect the yearning of Nigerian women and also to address the operational challenges of the Ministry.
The representatives of the US embassy and the European Union also gave their countries’ support and commitment to achieving gender equality all over the world. The rep of the US embassy stated in her address stated that the clamor of gender equality was personal for her. She informed that it was less than hundred years ago that the United State passed legislation allowing women to vote. She informed that in a not-so-distant past of the United State, female diplomats had to resign their position on account of marriage. The representative of the EU, Pauline Torehall admonish all and sundry to join hand in ensuring the achievement of planet 50:50 by 2030.