For the records: Opening remarks at 2nd Edition of Nigerian Women’s Day and Framing of the Dialogue on 31 years of progress, resilience, impact and renewed hope at the 70th Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) United Nations, New York on 12 March 2026

By Toun Okewale Sonaiya

There are many negatives about Nigeria at home and abroad.  But no one will make a change in Nigeria except for Nigerians and friends of Nigeria.  The percentage of Nigerians giving Nigeria the negative image is no more than a minor percentage. Your positive contribution is like a piece of a jigsaw.  Bit by bit we will build a bigger positive Nigeria. I have come as a Diaspora who moved to Nigeria 11 years ago to contribute my quota of the jigsaw piece. My line of work doesn’t allow me to be partisan but the truth has to be propagated to encourage you to join this jigsaw to make a positive change for Nigerian women and their families in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.

Nigerian women, children, families and vulnerable people, especially in 774 rural areas, face big challenges that stop them from contributing to the country’s growth. These challenges include no electricity, no access to money,  limited internet access, poor healthcare, few opportunities for education and  few women in leadership positions. The question is how can you and I help Nigerian women in providing these services that meet their needs.  Nigeria’s gender ministry has come up with 9 robust “WomanAgenda” under the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions -RH-SII with a singular aim – to help, make and empower 50 million Nigerians especially disadvantaged women to drive a change that will benefit the people and the country, and these interventions will keep working long-term with your partnership. RH-SII is already working on multiple fronts to supporting women and vulnerable groups and to build stronger communities. But this is a huge project that the ministry alone cannot implement. This is the jigsaw that needs you, your commitment,  your support and your partnership to rebuild our Nigeria.

The PowerHer774 is a Clean Energy  Access targeting 1million women and their households in the 774 LGAs to fight energy poverty where women beneficiaries of LPG are becoming business owners.  I understand that the President has bought into PowerHer774 and that there’s a funding line of about 500million dollars from the Bank of China. This is your time to get into this ecosystem value chain. No more handouts to Nigerian women.  The Women Agro Value Expansion (WAVE) is targeting 3million women in agriculture with 70% of Nigeria’s workforce as women. There are already success stories of turning women in subsistence farming to agro entrepreneurs. A pilot had existing female farmers given 1 million naira and within months these women increased value by 10 million. The Plan is to have more agro industrial villages working with the likes of IITA to establish in all the 774 communities. Imagine each LGA having fish pond, a poultry. There will be enough to subsidise for the community and enough to sell. That way we address food insecurity,  malnutrition and economic empowerment. This is an invitation for you to be a part and invest in the women agro value expansion intervention.

The National Child Advancement and Achievement Programme is targeting street-connected, vulnerable, and out-of-school children. 50% of Nigerians population under age of 15 are children. The recommendation is to establish an implementing agency dedicated to our children. Thanks to the hon minister for recognising a gap for collaboration knowing that the ministry cannot implement alone. The agency will be solely dedicated for the advancement of every Nigerian Child at the  sub nationals working with and completing the efforts of the right protection agencies. I understand that Mr President has approved the universal cash grants where every Nigerian child born will get a certain amount every month toward the upkeep. We call it child benefit in the UK.  I also understand that for every office that wishes to introduce or establish a crèche facility, the President has approved at subsidised rates.

Digital Literacy and Safe Inclusion (Digital Harmony) is targeting 5million Women and girls. Data poverty is real for Nigerian women. They cannot use devices. We need to continually teach them how to crack data hence the Happy Woman APP evolution to help our women play nationally and globally so the woman in the village can communicate digitally and even listen to Women Radio from anywhere in Nigeria. I understand that we’re mindful of cyber bullying and AI revolution and I acknowledge the ministry for working with NITDA and ministry of communications to actualise 90 % digital literacy in Nigeria. So digital harmony and data evolution needs you. Our young people. The GenZ. We need you here and in the other areas of course.  Safeguarding the wellbeing, wellness and health protection of 5 million women and girl’s matter.  From maternal healthcare, neonatal, menstrual hygiene, menopause and everything female. That’s why HerSafeGuard and RenewHer programme in my opinion are important. If you work in this field you’re needed.

When I heard of the WEV the Women Economic Village. I love the tourism component of the Women Economic Village. WEV is under the EmpowerHer where Women, Rise, Innovate and Create – (WRIC) targeting 10 million women entrepreneurs and artisans. This is localising international initiatives that work like NELFUND and with your support WEV will work when you come to Nigeria the land of diversity where women are different but beautiful in our food and what we wear. Every state will have a WEV centre run by a female entrepreneur and in there every Nigerian state is represented through a stall by what is being sold or offered as a product of the state. So WEV centre  will serve as tourist and business centre but most importantly as a Women’s centre.

Women in Leadership and Politics with SheRuns is targeting 5million Young and aspiring women leaders and girls. This is an area that I’m passionate about. SheRuns will be our biggest voting bloc strategy to penetrate. The truth be told, women needs financial muscle to play on this field. If we put the energy we all put into the Special Seats Bill Reserved for Women into SheRuns, we will galvanise and push for women to be at the table and not to be eaten like the menu. SheRuns will position Nigerian women to be able to take any seat we want in this Nigeria. At the moment we have 9 female deputy governors, the highest we’ve had.  But we want more and I think with SheRuns we can galvanise to have Nigeria’s first elected female governor for 2027. The deputy governor of my state Ogun has served excellently for 8 years, she is a good candidate for Nigeria’s 1st elected female governor hopefully under SheRuns . With SheRuns a leadership academy for mentoring and funding for women, our future in governance looks hopeful.  HerSafeHaven – SafeSpaces infrastructure targeting women, children, family. SGBV response mapping, psychosocial support and the last one FamilyFirst ensuring stability in families, that families are ok with family oriented and targeted programmes as part of the National agenda is welcoming.

How do you come into the Jigsaw? Can you visualise the Nigeria you want.  We need your support and buy in for these programmes to actualise the Nigeria you have visualised. We need your expertise; we need your skills. We need your strength. We need your money within and beyond Nigeria.  We want Nigerians and friends of Nigeria to take the lead to fund the social impacts interventions. If we get 1 million people to give 1 pound monthly, we will build infrastructure that will give us the Nigeria we want. We want you to be part of this story. 1 pound every month will bring the desired change.  We have no other country than our dear Nigeria.  We must rebuild our Nigeria together.  Let us put the system and structure in place together for accountability. Your money will be used for the purpose it’s meant to be used for. The team will account for every penny or cent you donate. Wherever you are in the diaspora please reach out so you can be part of history that has changed Nigeria.

My personal opinion in conclusion. Any administration that is inclusive, deliberate, intentional and interested about women and her families and children like this administration should not just be commended, but be supported.  I’m not a politician. I’m a woman. My constituency is women.   In my line of duty, I work with data to inform and educate. With the data before me, I believe we’re on the right track. I’m calling you to join forces to actualise these well thought out interventions. My personal advise to HMWA&SD please work with young people to drive these interventions. Young people are doers. Young people are performers. Young people are executioners. They will help you drive this agenda to reality. The Diaspora is another bloc I recommend that you work with. The Diaspora are wired to deliver. They are conditioned to succeed and excel. They just want to get things done. They want to come back home and when they trust they will give and give and give.

There are many negatives about Nigeria at home and abroad.  But no one will make a change in Nigeria except for Nigerians and friends of Nigeria. I remain a proud Nigerian.

Toun Okewale Sonaiya, Chair Board of Directors Women Radio WFM 91.7

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