International Women’s Day (IWD) 2026
We at African Women Lawyer’s Association (AWLA) wish every woman a happy international women’s day!
We join our voices to call for intentional and deliberate action to invest in women and girls! This is the missing link that needs to be linked to get our world rolling.
International Women’s Day 2026 falls on March 8, marking the 115th anniversary of a global movement championing gender equality, women’s rights, and empowerment since its inception in 1911.
Its about investing in women to create a fairer society. The theme “Give To Gain” shows that when women succeed, everyone benefits – communities, workplaces, and economies grow! This campaign, ignites a worldwide call for abundant generosity—urging individuals, organizations, communities, and governments to invest in women through donations, mentoring, resources, visibility, advocacy, equal pay, protection, and opportunities, fostering reciprocity where “when women thrive, we all rise.” It spurs urgent and accelerated action and amplifies progress and expansion in male allyship for positive and enduring impact.
Emphasizing that investing in women—through education, resources, and leadership opportunities—yields massive societal and economic returns. In Nigeria, this translates to driving political inclusion, curbing gender-based violence, and fostering economic growth, boosting Africa’s overall development.
IWD 2026 Theme & Focus
Theme: “Give to Gain” promotes the idea that empowering women is a strategic, smart investment rather than charity, accelerating progress in communities and workplaces.
Nigerian Focus:
The focus is on implementing tangible action for women’s rights, with a strong emphasis on passing the Special Seats Bill for better political representation. It addresses the high rate of gender-based violence while celebrating women’s roles in leadership, technology, and entrepreneurship.
Impact on Africa: By investing in Nigerian women—who represent a significant portion of Africa’s population—the “Give to Gain” approach strengthens the continent’s economic stability and accelerates the African renaissance, as seen through recognition of women in business and creative industries like AFRIMA.
AWLA call to action: Let’s end indignity to women, empower women & enthrone gender parity in Nigeria, Africa and the world!
Sadly,
– 1 in 3 Nigerian women face gender-based violence. Let’s act!
– In Nigeria— female literacy lags at 54% vs. men’s 70%,
– Investing in women boosts Nigeria’s GDP by 35% & accelerates Africa’s growth.
– Only 4.5% of Nigerian lawmakers are women. We need the Special Seats Bill!
TIME TO ACT IS NOW!!!
Take Action NOW:
1. Support the Special Seats Bill (#SpecialSeatsBill) for more women in politics.
2. Mentor 1 woman in business, tech, or leadership.
3. Invest in Women- create opportunities, provide resources.
4. Speak Out against gender-based violence (#NoToGBV).
5. Celebrate Women Leaders in your community.
*Why “Give to Gain”?*
The “Give To Gain” Philosophy: From Heart to Ripple Effect
At its core, “Give To Gain” reframes giving not as depletion but as intentional multiplication—
a mindset shift where open hearts and collaborative action accelerate gender parity.
It lists 30+ actionable ways to support women, from respect and funding to training and safety, making IWD a massive giving day for women’s nonprofits. As Gloria Steinem said, women’s equality is a collective human rights effort – let’s celebrate, activate, and push for policy change, anywhere and everywhere!
For the Corporate bodies, my question is how much have your organisation contributed to the empowering women via donations to women organizations?
– Empowering women = Strategic investment, not charity.
– Women thrive → Africa prospers.
AWLA urges: Let’s make IWD 2026 count!
#GiveToGain #IWD2026 #InvestInWomen #AWLA 🇳🇬
Key Aspects of “Give to Gain”
– Focus on Action -Strategic Investment: Shifting from just recognizing women to actively investing in them to build a more equitable, productive, and secure environment. emphasis on the need to transition from just celebrating women to taking concrete action, such as providing access to platforms that enable them to thrive.
– Collective Responsibility: It calls for a whole people and whole Government collaborative effort from governments, corporations, and communities to support women, especially in male-dominated fields.
– Economic Empowerment: Creating opportunities for women to thrive in business and leadership roles.
– Support & Mentorship: Encouraging mentorship, role models, advocacy, and providing platforms for women’s voices.
We reiterate powerfully:
International Women’s Day 2026: *”Give to Gain” – Invest in Women, Empower Africa*
Nigeria & Africa can’t afford to miss this chance! Investing in women through philanthropy, mentorship, education, resources, and leadership creates a ripple effect, resulting in societal gain: yields MASSIVE returns
– Drives political inclusion & ends gender-based violence
– Drives financial inclusion
– Boosts economic growth & Africa’s development; drives prosperity by, improving, livelihoods and creating, a stronger, more, resilient economy, for, families and communities.
– Drives Sustainable Development: By investing in women, Nigeria, as a, major, African economy, directly contributes to the, continent’s, overall development, goals, ensuring that, 50% of, human capital is not ignored.
– Strengthens communities & workplaces
However as lawyers we seem more inclined to focus on the UN theme as it calls to action: *”Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls”*
It’s time to dismantle structural barriers holding women back – discriminatory laws, weak protections, and unequal opportunities. Let’s address the inequalities & ensure justice for all women!
Key Focus:
– Break down legal & social barriers
– Ensure equal rights & opportunities
– Take urgent, collective action
Join the UN & NGOs in driving change. Let’s make equality a reality!
Equality is a legal right not an equitable right, it’s a right that must be respected, honoured, and enforced. It’s a duty owed to women and girls. Any government that fails to go the extra mile to enforce this right is acting ultra vires the National constitution as well as the international conventions they signed up to protect. It’s about the grundnorm being violated. We call for judicial activism to ensure Women’s rights to equality are protected.
We amplify our voices at AWLA, test these laws and attain judicial pronouncements to same and implementation of same without fear or favour not minding whose ox is gored.
Remember : “Each time a woman stands up for herself, without knowing it possibly, without claiming it, she stands up for all women.” – Maya Angelou.
EACH TIME YOU STAND UP FOR YOUR RIGHT, YOU STAND UP FOR ALL WOMEN!!!
#IWD2026 #RightsJusticeAction #EqualityForAll
Whether an individual, organization or community group, here are some great ideas for supporting the IWD 2026 Give To Gain campaign all year long.
At work, at home, and in the community, there are many ways to overtly advance women. Be a part of this great Initiative to empower women and girls, join the allyship agenda which is AWLA campaign to attain parity
● Give respect
● Give donations
● Give visibility
● Give knowledge
● Give funding
● Give justice
● Give resources
● Give a voice
● Give protection
● Give truth
● Give equal pay
● Give celebration
● Give sponsorship
● Give mentoring
● Give credit
● Give budget
● Give introductions
● Give workshops
● Give opportunities
● Give safety
● Give training
● Give stretch assignments
● Give momentum
● Give role models
● Give growth
● Give access
● Give time
● Give pro bono services to women in need of legal aid.
Amanda Demechi-Asagba Esq
President
African Women Lawyers Association
President@awla.international
Ref:
https://www.internationalwomensday.com/Theme
awlainternatioknal@gmail.com
