Iyabo Obasanjo, a governorship aspirant under the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ogun State, has honoured Nigerian women while urging stronger commitment to justice, equality and opportunities for women and girls.
She made the call in a statement released on Sunday, the 8th of March, 2026, in commemoration of International Women’s Day, describing the global event as a moment to reflect on the need for real and measurable progress for women.
“Fellow Ogun Women, today, we join millions around the world to celebrate International Women’s Day,” she said. “This year’s theme, ‘Rights. Justice. Action. For ALL Women and Girls’ is a powerful call to move beyond promises and toward results.”
Obasanjo observed that while many countries now operate with laws designed to protect women’s rights, those protections often fail to translate into real-life fairness.
“We live in a time when most nations have laws on paper that protect women. We have policies for equal pay, laws against discrimination, and quotas for representation. But as we look around, we see that a right on paper is not the same as justice in practice in our country,” she said.
She explained that justice should be visible in the daily lives of women across different spaces, including workplaces, public institutions and social environments.
“Justice is what happens when a woman can walk into a courtroom, a boardroom, or a doctor’s office and be seen as a whole and equal human being. It is the bridge between the law and our lived reality. But justice doesn’t happen by accident. It requires action,” she said.
Obasanjo noted that genuine progress demands deliberate steps to challenge hidden discrimination and provide better support systems for women and girls.
“Action means challenging the ‘quiet’ biases in our offices. It means investing in the health and safety of girls in every corner of the globe, not just where it is convenient. It means realizing that when we give to gain when we invest in women the entire community benefits,” she said.
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She also rejected the common belief that women often stand in the way of one another, stating that her own experience has shown the opposite.
“I do not share the belief that women are women’s greatest enemies. I indeed believe that women are my greatest supporters. I have been taught and mentored by several formidable women, from my mother and grandmother to teachers and advisors,” she said.
According to her, greater participation of women in leadership roles would encourage young girls to pursue positions of influence.
“If elected the first female Governor in Nigeria, it will add to what is possible for women and inspire girls,” she said.
Obasanjo urged women to continue supporting one another and working collectively to expand opportunities and strengthen their role in shaping the country’s future.