IWD 2026: Osun NAWOJ Celebrates Women, Emphasises Empowerment, Secured Environment, To Drive Progress
The Osun State Chapter of the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) has joined the global community to celebrate International Women’s Day with the theme: “Rights, Justice, Action, For ALL Women and Girls”, a call for collective action to accelerate progress towards gender equality and women’s empowerment.
Osun NAWOJ noted that this year’s theme highlights the critical role women play in building strong families, vibrant communities, and sustainable national development in a secured environment, and the urgent need to address the social, cultural, and institutional barriers that limit women’s access to justice and opportunities.
In a release signed by the Osun NAWOJ Chairperson, Comrade Abisola Ariwodola and the Secretary Oluwaranti Ojewumi, the association emphasises that, empowering women is not only a matter of fairness and equality but also a strategic pathway to achieving economic growth, social stability, and inclusive governance, thereby urging stakeholders to support the passage of the Special Seats Bill (HB1349) currently before the National Assembly, which seeks to increase women’s representation in governance.
While celebrating the resilience, achievements, and invaluable contributions of women across all sectors, Osun NAWOJ called on the governments to intensify efforts toward policies and programs that will promote women’s empowerment at large, and also provide enhanced security for a safe environment.
The association used the medium to laud the government of Governor Ademola Adeleke, and called for creation of more opportunities for women in leadership, governance, entrepreneurship, technology, education, skills development and safe society, noting that when women are empowered, the entire communities benefits and thrive.
Osun NAWOJ stressed further, the importance of providing support systems that enables accessibility to the female gender in quality education, healthcare, business, infrastructure and others, amid protection against Gender-Based Violence.
“As we mark this year’s International Women’s Day, we call on governments, institutions, and stakeholders to take deliberate actions that will uplift women and girls in a safe communities. “Empowering women is essential for building an equitable, and prosperous society”.
The foremost women led organisation called on communities including security agencies and the media to champion women’s rights, promote gender-sensitive reporting, and amplify the voices of women and girls, and NAWOJ encouraged women across Osun State to continue to strive for excellence, support one another, and remain active contributors to societal development.
The association reaffirmed its commitment to advocating for the rights, welfare, protection and advancement of the female gender, while continuing to use its role to amplify the voices and issues affecting women and children, irrespective of class or status.
“Let’s work together to create a society where women and girls can thrive and reach their full potential, let’s unify to dismantle all barriers to equal justice: discriminatory laws, weak legal protections, and harmful practices and social norms that erode the rights of women and girls, and demand equal rights and equal justice to enforce, exercise, and enjoy those rights in a safe and enabling environment, – the statement concluded.