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LEDAP Urges Nigerian Government to Prioritize Women’s Economic Empowerment and Equality Advocacy on International Women’s Day.

The Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP) is a pioneering non-governmental organization in Nigeria committed to advancing human rights, access to justice, and the rule of law. Founded in 1997, LEDAP operates through strategic litigation, legal aid services, capacity building, and public awareness initiatives across various thematic areas, including criminal justice reform, women’s rights, children’s rights, prison reform, and environmental justice. LEDAP’s core values revolve around justice, equality, accountability, and empowerment. Through its legal advocacy, LEDAP challenges unconstitutional laws, secures landmark court judgments, and advocates for legal reforms, ensuring marginalized individuals and communities have access to justice and legal remedies.

Published

2 months ago

March 11, 2024

Stella Charles Akupue

LEDAP Urges Nigerian Government to Prioritize Women's Economic Empowerment and Equality Advocacy on International Women’s Day.

On International Women’s Day, LEDAP calls on the Nigerian government to prioritize women’s economic empowerment and support equality advocacy. With the theme ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress’, this year’s International Women’s Day addresses the inequalities and exclusion of women in economic and political affairs.

In Nigeria, women occupy an appalling 4.5% of legislative seats and an even smaller percentage in executive positions. In businesses, women are underrepresented, and access to capital funds for the average woman is non-existent. Nigeria has one of the highest rates of child marriage globally, with about 43% of girls married before the age of 18. At the same time, they also face gender-based violence, including domestic abuse, rape, and human trafficking.

Investing in women is not just a moral imperative but an economic and social necessity. Women’s contributions to society, the economy, and the world are invaluable, yet they often face barriers that hinder their full potential. Approximately 60% of out-of-school children in Nigeria are girls, limiting their opportunities for personal and professional growth.

Even when they graduate from school, they often encounter workplace discrimination, with some employers requesting their bodies in exchange for jobs. Women have lower workforce participation rates compared to men, and they face discrimination when seeking employment under the guise of ‘some jobs are not for women’. Customary laws in many regions of Nigeria often deny women inheritance and property rights, leaving them economically vulnerable.

Feminism is the radical notion that women are people and deserve as many rights as men, including the right to own and inherit property. Investing in women accelerates progress for women and entire communities and nations. This day serves as a reminder of the ongoing fight for women’s rights and the need to continue advocating for gender equality in all aspects of society.

Here at LEDAP, we firmly believe empowering women creates a more equitable, affluent, and sustainable society. Through our numerous programs and projects, we work to provide women with the tools, resources, and opportunities they need. As we celebrate women today, let us accelerate progress by investing in women—because when women thrive, societies flourish.

To all the remarkable women out there: may you always know your worth, stand tall in your power, and never settle for anything less than you deserve because there is nothing you cannot do.

Happy International Women’s Day!

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