INEC Marks International Women’s Day, Promotes ‘Give To Gain’ For Women Leadership

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Tuesday commemorated the 2026 International Women’s Day, reaffirming its commitment to strengthening women’s leadership and promoting inclusivity in Nigeria’s electoral system.

The event, held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, was themed “Give to Gain: Advancing Women Leadership for Inclusive Progress,” and focused on the need to empower women to occupy leadership and decision-making positions.

In his welcome address, Chairman of the Organising Planning Committee (OPC), Prof. Abdu Zuru, said the celebration was both a moment of reflection and a call to action for institutions to evaluate their progress in advancing gender inclusion.

According to him, the philosophy of “Give to Gain” reflects the belief that institutions grow stronger when opportunities are extended to all.

“International Women’s Day is not merely ceremonial. It invites institutions like ours to pause, reflect on progress made and recommit to purposeful action. When we give opportunities, we gain collectively and humanity prospers,” he said.

Zuru noted that the Commission was recognising women who have risen to top leadership positions across its departments, units and divisions, including those serving as national commissioners, resident electoral commissioners, administrative secretaries and directors.

He described them as women of substance who have demonstrated exceptional competence while paving the way for others to rise.

“This is a clear reflection of our resolve to build a Commission where leadership is determined by competence, integrity and equitable opportunity,” he added.

In his opening remarks, INEC Chairman, Prof. Joash O. Amupitan, said the occasion provided an opportunity to reflect on the progress made in advancing women’s participation in leadership while acknowledging the work that still remains.
He stressed that inclusive leadership leads to stronger institutions, balanced policies and more sustainable outcomes.

“For us at INEC, gender inclusion is not mere rhetoric; it is a deliberate commitment. Credibility, trust and legitimacy in democratic governance are strengthened when all segments of society, including women, are adequately represented,” he said.

Amupitan highlighted the increasing representation of women within the Commission’s leadership structure. According to him, INEC currently has two female national commissioners and a female secretary to the commission, while six female resident electoral commissioners and eight female administrative secretaries serve at the state level.

He further disclosed that 10 out of the Commission’s 23 directors are women, representing over 43 per cent of the directorate cadre, while 218 of the 774 electoral officers nationwide are women.

The INEC chairman said the Commission had taken deliberate steps to promote gender inclusion, including the establishment of a Gender and Inclusivity Department in 2021 and the appointment of Hadiza Abubakar Talba as Special Assistant on Gender and Inclusivity.

However, he expressed concern over the growing trend of gender-based disinformation and digital harassment targeting female political aspirants ahead of future elections.

“As we approach the 2027 electoral cycle, female candidates are increasingly subjected to online harassment and fake news aimed at discouraging their political ambitions. The electoral space must be a sanctuary for ideas, not a battlefield of gender-targeted attacks,” he warned.

Amupitan also called on political parties to ensure genuine internal democracy and inclusivity in their primaries, noting that the Commission would intensify scrutiny of party processes to ensure women are not systematically excluded.

Presenting a paper titled “The Journey So Far,” the Secretary to the Commission, Dr. Rose Oriarian-Anthony, outlined the progress made toward achieving the 35 per cent affirmative action target for women within the Commission.

She said the progress had been driven by deliberate policies such as gender mainstreaming, inclusive recruitment practices, leadership development programmes and institutional reforms.

According to her, women now occupy key leadership positions within the Commission, including national commissioners, directors, resident electoral commissioners and administrative secretaries.

“It is not a coincidence that the longest-serving National Commissioner is a woman and that the last two successive Secretaries to the Commission are women,” she said.

Oriarian-Anthony added that out of the 23 departments at INEC headquarters, 10 are headed by women, while 15 women currently serve as administrative secretaries across states, representing about 41 per cent.

Despite the progress recorded, she noted that more efforts were required to fully achieve the 35 per cent target nationwide.

“The theme ‘Give to Gain’ perfectly captures our experience. By giving women opportunities, visibility and institutional support, INEC has gained enhanced productivity, improved stakeholder trust and stronger governance structures,” she said.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks delivered by the Director of the Gender and Inclusivity Department, Dorathy Bello, who commended the Commission’s leadership and staff for their continued commitment to promoting gender equality and inclusive governance.
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