By Adenike Ayodele
The International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria has called for stronger collaborative efforts to promote gender justice, equity and inclusive development across the country.
FIDA Country Vice-President and National President, Mrs Eliana Martins, made the call in Lagos on Tuesday at the opening ceremony of the 2025 Annual General Conference (AGC).
The theme of the year conference is: “Bridging Gaps, Building Future: Women’s Rights, Justice and Sustainable Development in Nigeria.”
Martins, in her welcome address, said that the need for decisive action on gender justice and inclusive governance had become more urgent.
She added that systemic discrimination and poor enforcement of protective laws continued to threaten vulnerable populations.
She commended the four Lagos branches of FIDA for their coordination and commitment to service.
According to her, their work has helped expand access to legal aid, advocacy and community support for women, children and persons with disabilities.
She highlighted the progress recorded in the past year, including achievements under the Ford Foundation-supported Gender-Based Violence (GBV) Prevention Project.
She explained that the initiative had strengthened collaboration among traditional, religious and government leaders in Lagos, Ekiti and Plateau states.
Martins noted gains from the UN Women’s WPP project, saying it advanced women’s political inclusion through policy development, stakeholder engagement and securing over 135,000 public endorsements.
She added that in spite of these achievements, challenges such as gender-based violence and the weak implementation of protective laws—including the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act and the Child Rights Act—remained widespread.
“We urge agencies responsible for justice administration to act decisively because FIDA Nigeria will continue to work toward strengthening justice systems and community structures that safeguard the vulnerable.”
Martins thanked donors, partners and FIDA executives for their support, expressing hope that the conference would inspire new strategies to enhance protection for women and children.
Secretary to the Lagos State Government (SSG), Mrs Abimbola Salu-Hudeyin, in her keynote address, said women remained central to building equitable societies.
“Yet continued to face limited access to justice, capital, land and opportunities due to persistent gender bias and entrenched social norms,”she said.
The SSG said closing the gaps required deliberate government action, institutional support and sustained advocacy from legal professionals, policymakers and development partners.
According to her, women’s rights are increasingly recognised as essential to good governance, sustainable development and social stability.
She, however, said ” more needs to be done to translate legal frameworks into practical benefits for women.”
She noted that Lagos State had continued to champion gender inclusion across key sectors, including education, healthcare and economic empowerment.
The SSG added that social protection systems must be strengthened to protect women from discrimination and exploitation.
Salu-Hudeyin urged the legal community to challenge practices that hindered women’s advancement and to support the next generation of female leaders.
She called for stronger collaboration between government, the judiciary, FIDA and development partners to transform gender justice from “a legal conversation into a lived reality for all.”
The Attorney-General of Lagos State and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Lawal Pedro (SAN), in his goodwill message, also called for equal representation of women in policy-making processes across Nigeria.
Pedro said national development could not be achieved without women’s full participation.
He said women, particularly young female lawyers, must be empowered with the skills, opportunities and institutional support needed to contribute meaningfully to national decisions.
According to him, policies and resources must be deliberately structured to protect women’s interests and ensure they are included at every level of governance, rather than being sidelined in critical decision-making spaces.
Pedro, who said that gender equality was a global imperative, urged government institutions to strengthen data systems, build capacity and close existing gaps that hindered women’s representation.
“Empowering women will lead to better policy outcomes, sustainability, stronger communities and Nigeria must embrace inclusiveness to achieve meaningful progress,” Pedro said.
A Former Country Vice-President of FIDA, Mrs Marlies Allan, also advocated for stronger efforts to empower women and inspire the next generation of female leaders.
Allan, a life member of FIDA international, said that women must be equipped with leadership skills, emotional intelligence and confidence to contribute meaningfully to national development.
She said that passion remained central to influence and effective leadership, adding that women must be encouraged to sustain their interests and aspirations.
According to her, women continue to face barriers such as gender bias, limited opportunities and societal stereotypes, which often hindered their progress.
Allan said: “Overcoming these challenges require deliberate strategies including mentoring, networking, continuous learning and building strong support systems within families, workplaces and communities.
“Celebrating women achievers also plays a crucial role in motivating others and driving positive change.
“I urge women to embrace self-advocacy, develop resilience and position themselves for leadership roles across sectors.
“There is also need to create inclusive environments that foster growth, support and recognition for women, especially young professionals.”
She added that male allies remained vital to the advancement of women, noting that men could help challenge bias, promote fairness and support work-life balance initiatives.
Allan further expressed concern over the low representation of women in Nigeria’s political space, describing it as a major setback to equality and development
Citing recent figures, she lamented that women occupied only a fraction of elective positions nationwide.