IWD 2025: NAS Calls for Stronger Protections for Nigerian Women
As the world marks International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025 under the theme “Accelerate Action,” the National Association of Seadogs (NAS), Pyrates Confraternity, has called for urgent and concrete measures to protect Nigerian women from systemic barriers hindering their rights, dignity, and freedom.
In a statement signed by NAS Cap’n Dr. Joseph Oteri, the association emphasized that gender equality is a universal entitlement that must be upheld, stressing that while many nations have made significant progress, Nigerian women continue to face challenges that demand immediate intervention.
NAS expressed deep concern over the prevalence of gender-based violence, child marriage, and inadequate healthcare, citing alarming statistics that highlight the urgency of the situation.
According to the Pyrates Confraternity, gender-based violence, including domestic abuse and sexual assault, remains widespread in Nigeria, with cultural norms and weak legal enforcement discouraging survivors from seeking justice.
Quoting a recent UNICEF report, NAS revealed that 30.3% of Nigerian women aged 20–24 were married before the age of 18, a practice that deprives girls of education and perpetuates poverty and gender inequality.
Equally troubling, NAS cited data from the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), which shows that Nigeria accounts for nearly 20% of global maternal deaths, a stark indicator of the country’s failing healthcare system for women. Restrictive laws on reproductive rights, they added, further expose women to unsafe practices that endanger their lives.
In politics, NAS pointed out that despite making up nearly half of Nigeria’s population, women’s representation in governance remains far below the 35% benchmark set in the national gender policy, highlighting the need for greater political inclusion.
To align with global standards and ensure that women’s rights are recognized as human rights, NAS has urged the Nigerian government to take decisive steps toward gender equality.
Key recommendations made by the Association included Enforcing laws that protect women from violence, discrimination, and harmful cultural practices; Ensuring that every girl has access to quality education, which is critical to delaying marriage and empowering women economically; Creating pathways for more women to participate in leadership and decision-making roles; Expanding maternal health services and upholding reproductive rights to curb high mortality rates among women.
As the world observes IWD, NAS took the opportunity to celebrate the resilience, achievements, and contributions of women across various fields.
“Women have played transformative roles in governance, business, science, education, and activism. Even in the face of systemic inequalities, they continue to shape societies and economies globally,” NAS stated.
The group paid tribute to Nigerian women such as Margaret Ekpo, Funmilayo Ransome-Kuti, and Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, who have broken barriers and paved the way for future generations.
