Women's Progress Remains Elusive on International Women's Day
The annual celebration of International Women's Day has become a highlight of the global calendar, with numerous events, tributes, and campaigns aimed at promoting women's empowerment. However, beneath the surface of these festivities lies a pressing question: are we truly measuring progress, or merely paying lip service to it? The 2026 global campaign theme, "Give to Gain," serves as a poignant reminder of the need for collective action and a world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.
While organisations around the world continue to host events and highlight women-led initiatives, the question remains: are women's lives actually improving? The struggle for women's equality is far from new, with its roots dating back to pre-colonial times and existing across cultures and social systems. In the Igbo society, for instance, women like the Umuada wielded significant influence in family matters and marketplaces, despite the persistence of gender biases.
The contrast between pre-colonial Igbo systems and Western societies is striking. While Western systems formally excluded women from power and decision-making, Igbo women exercised structured collective influence, albeit within existing limits. The question now is: how far have we come in translating these gains into meaningful power, opportunity, and equality for women? Are their voices being heard where it matters, and are they shaping decisions, leading initiatives, and gaining visibility?
The writer's poignant question about measuring women's progress on International Women's Day resonates deeply with Nigerian women, particularly those in the Igbo community, who have long been at the forefront of women's empowerment. As Afrobeats icon, Tiwa Savage, continues to break barriers in the music industry, it's a stark reminder that progress, though slow, is being made. However, the struggle for true equality and representation remains a pressing issue, not just in Nigeria, but globally.
