FIRST NIGERIAN PAN-AFRICAN WOMEN'S DAY

 The 31st of July every year is the day the Pan-African Women's Day is celebrated on the continent. The big deal, however, is that the day is officially celebrated for the very first time in Nigeria. The venue was the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women's Development MBNCWD) led by its Director-General, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi. The Minister of Women Affairs, Hon. Iman Suleima-Ibrahim was the Chair of the week-long celebration between 27th July and 1st August 2026. The theme for 2026: 'We rise with one voice, one legacy, one Africa'...

L-R: Dr. Ts'gye Rachel Leslie (ED The African Historical Society - AHS/Keynote Speaker) & Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa

Some of the activities at the week long celebration supported by UNDP, AU and UN Women were:

*The Maryam Babangida legacy experience

*The first edition of the 'International Gender Conference organised by the Organisation for Gender Advancement & Education Development International (OGAEDI) in collaboration with the MBNCWD & Yakubu Gowon University's Centre for Gender Studies & Youth Advancement (CGSYA)

*African First Ladies legacy archives

*African Women Futures Forum & Trade Show

*Immersive cultural display

*Women who built Africa: Tribute segment

*Pan-Africa women's innovation on display

*African women's fashion Heritage pavillion

*African women green futures forum

*Hall of Fame immersive experience 

The MBNCWD was a beehive of activity for a whole week. Vendors displayed bespoke clothes, food items, farm produce and sundry products. A major highlight of the celebration was the first edition of the 'International Gender Conference by OGEADI in collaboration with the MBNCWD and CGSYA - Yahubu Gowon University on the 30th of July. Esther Wghobamien (newly elected Nigerian member of the CEDAW Committee at the UN), Dr. Irene Kemi DaSilva-Ibru (Physician/Social Activist/Gender Advocate against SGBV) and a representative of the VC Nassarawa State University - Prof Saadatu Hassan Liman were Keynote speakers. The theme of the Conference was Gender, Globalisation & Good Governance with 19 sub-themes on Education, Health, Science & Technology, Mass Media & Literature, Culture, ICT, National Development, Environment, Economy, Arts & Humanities, Family, Electoral System, Service Delivery & Public Service, Sports, Law, Religion, Gender identity & Identity Politics, Women in leadership, etc. Kudos to Dr. Peter Adeyanju, President/CEO OGEADI for pulling off the spectacular Conference in collaboration with critical stakeholders!

L-R: Prof. Grace John-Kia (ABU/Co-anchor of Panel Discussion) & Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa (Consultant to DG MBNCWD/Anchor Panel Discussion) with the photo of the Hon. Minister of Women Affairs - Iman Ibrahim-Suleiman (in the background)

On the 31st of August, the Keynote Speaker for the first Nigerian Pan-African Women's Day, Dr. Ts'gye Rachel Leslie gave profound insights from the podium as regards the heroism of African women even before colonialism. Women in some African countries had mastered techniques to prevent flooding, which they shared across borders. It was indeed a successful week-long celebration. I look forward to the next edition...

                                          L-R: Prof. Grace John-Kia & Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa