The Federal Government has approved three major national policy instruments aimed at strengthening the protection of women and children, addressing period poverty and recognising unpaid care work, as part of renewed efforts to advance gender equality and women’s participation in national development.

The policies, approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) presided over by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, include the National Action Plan on Ending Violence Against Children, the National Policy on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management (2026–2030), and the National Care Policy and Implementation Plan (2026–2030).

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja during a press conference to commemorate the 26th anniversary of the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.

The event, themed, ‘From Commitment to Impact: Advancing Women, Peace and Security through Inclusive Leadership, Local Action and National Accountability in Nigeria,’ focused on strengthening women’s participation in peacebuilding, security and decision-making while addressing the challenges affecting women and girls across the country.

The minister described the three policy approvals as significant interventions in the Federal Government’s efforts to strengthen social protection systems, safeguard children and expand women’s economic opportunities.

According to her, the National Action Plan on Ending Violence Against Children is designed to strengthen child protection mechanisms across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory through a Pathfinder State Model.

She explained that the costed action plan would improve prevention, reporting and response mechanisms, while ensuring that children exposed to abuse and other forms of violence receive appropriate protection and support.

“For a child, it means abuse is prevented before it happens and, where it does happen, that someone is there to act,” she said.

On menstrual health, Sulaiman-Ibrahim said the National Policy on Menstrual Health and Hygiene Management, 2026–2030, was designed to address period poverty and eliminate barriers preventing girls from participating fully in education because of inadequate access to sanitary products.

She said the policy would also encourage local manufacturing of menstrual hygiene products through women-owned businesses and establish Pad Banks in public spaces to improve access for vulnerable women and girls.

“For a girl, it means she should no longer have to stay home from school because she cannot afford a sanitary pad,” the minister said.

She noted that the intervention would not only improve menstrual health and hygiene but also create economic opportunities for women through local production and related businesses.

On the National Care Policy and Implementation Plan, the minister said the framework would formally recognise unpaid care work, particularly the responsibilities shouldered by women who care for children, elderly relatives and other dependent family members.

She explained that the policy would promote regulated childcare and elderly care services, establish minimum standards for care centres and create opportunities for professional employment in the care sector.

The framework also provides for a proposed National Care Fund and the development of an enabling Act of the National Assembly to strengthen its implementation.

“It means her work is finally recognised, and that safe, regulated childcare and elderly care will free her time to earn, learn and lead,” she said.

Linking the policy interventions to Nigeria’s broader security challenges, Sulaiman-Ibrahim argued that women’s protection and participation in development must begin within homes and communities.

“Insecurity does not begin on the battlefield. It begins in the home where a child is abused, in the classroom a girl misses for want of a sanitary pad, and in the household where a woman’s every hour is consumed by unpaid care,” she said.

Beyond the policy approvals, the minister disclosed that President Tinubu had also approved the establishment of the National Council for Social Work, with a chairman, registrar and administrative structure, to professionalise social work and improve support for vulnerable individuals and families.

She said the initiative, supported by a World Bank-assisted project, would facilitate the training, certification and deployment of licensed social workers nationwide.

According to her, the development would ensure that women fleeing violence, children at risk and families experiencing crises have access to trained professionals capable of providing appropriate assistance.

The minister also highlighted Nigeria’s progress in implementing the Women, Peace and Security Agenda through the three National Action Plans developed in 2013, 2017 and 2025.

She recalled that the Third National Action Plan (NAP III), launched on December 15, 2025, by First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, is anchored on five pillars: prevention, protection, participation, relief and recovery, and crisis response and emerging threats.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim said the framework places women, children, families and vulnerable populations at the centre of Nigeria’s peacebuilding and inclusive governance efforts.

On women’s representation in strategic national institutions, she cited the appointments of Kemi Nanna Nandap as Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Immigration Service and Folashade Adekaiyaoja as the first female Deputy Director-General of the Department of State Services.

She also acknowledged the growing presence of women in the judiciary, diplomatic service, armed forces and peacekeeping operations, particularly the election of Oyinkansola Badejo-Okusanya, SAN, as the first female President of the Nigerian Bar Association in July 2026.

The minister further disclosed that the Federal Government was implementing the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions – 774, designed to reach 50 million women, children and vulnerable citizens across all local government areas in the country.

The intervention covers women’s economic empowerment, clean energy initiatives, digital inclusion, participation in the green economy, affirmative procurement, child protection and family strengthening.

It also includes support for widows of fallen security personnel, senior citizens, displaced survivors and persons with disabilities.

However, the minister acknowledged significant gaps in Nigeria’s response to sexual and gender-based violence, disclosing that the country currently has only 52 Sexual Assault Referral Centres serving a population of more than 200 million people.

“Let me be honest about the gaps. Nigeria has 52 sexual assault referral centres serving over 200 million people. That is not enough, and we are working to add more,” she said.

She added that the ministry was working to strengthen the implementation of the Child Rights Act 2003, which has been domesticated by all 36 states, and the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act 2015, domesticated in 35 states, to address emerging threats, including technology-facilitated violence.

On the economic dimension of women’s security, Sulaiman-Ibrahim stressed that access to finance, land, productive assets and economic opportunities remained essential to reducing women’s vulnerability and strengthening their independence.

She recalled the Federal Government’s declaration of 2026 as the Year of Families and Social Development, adding that the ministry was advocating for a Decade of the Family in Nigeria to institutionalise early childhood development, strengthen intergenerational care and promote resilient households.

Earlier, the United Nations Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Beatrice Eyong, represented by the Programme Manager, Women, Peace and Security, Peter Mancha, commended the Federal Government for sustaining its commitment to the implementation of UNSCR 1325 through successive National Action Plans.

Eyong maintained that women’s participation in peace processes was not merely a question of representation but a strategic requirement for sustainable peace.

She cited evidence indicating that peace agreements involving women as negotiators, mediators, signatories and witnesses have a 35 per cent greater probability of lasting at least 15 years.

She also disclosed that Nigeria had established a network of more than 5,000 women mediators across states, while over 800 women had been integrated into traditional councils as members and advisers involved in decision-making and peacebuilding.

However, she expressed concern that nearly 80 per cent of active peace negotiations in the previous year took place without a single woman at the table.

She called for increased investment in conflict prevention, peacebuilding and women’s leadership, stressing that institutional barriers and unequal power relations continued to undermine women’s participation.

Similarly, the representative of the Minister of Defence, Lieutenant Colonel Nneka Olimma-Adinweruka, reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to expanding women’s participation in national security and strengthening gender-responsive security sector reforms.

She identified increased women’s representation in security decision-making, stronger protection against sexual and gender-based violence, institutional collaboration and adequate funding as essential to achieving the objectives of UNSCR 1325.

The representative of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies, Rakiya Attah, also commended the government’s efforts, reaffirming the institute’s support for initiatives promoting women’s inclusion in peacebuilding, democratic governance and national development.

Also speaking, the representative of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, Desola Olowokere, stressed the need to move beyond symbolic representation to meaningful participation and influence.

She urged stakeholders to ensure that the implementation of the Third National Action Plan produces tangible improvements in communities.

The representative of the Nigeria Police Force, Assistant Commissioner of Police Zainab Bello, reaffirmed the Force’s commitment to improving responses to sexual and gender-based violence through stronger gender desks, professional training, community partnerships and accountability mechanisms.

She said gender desk officers had been deployed across states and at divisional levels to ensure that survivors of sexual violence receive appropriate support and that sensitive cases are handled with professionalism, confidentiality and discretion.

The outgoing National President of the Association of Nigerian Female Students, Comrade Peter Attracta Precious, called for greater inclusion of women and girls in leadership, decision-making and national development.

She said the association remained committed to empowering female students to become responsible leaders and advocates for peace.

The minister called on the media to sustain public awareness and hold relevant institutions accountable for implementing the policies and commitments made by the government.

She particularly urged journalists to monitor the implementation of NAP III beyond national-level activities and report developments across states and local government areas.

She reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to ensuring that women and girls enjoy safety, dignity, equal opportunities and meaningful participation in shaping Nigeria’s development and security agenda.