Every year, the world marks International Women’s Day on March 8 to recognise their achievements and take stock of progress toward gender equality. 

Last year was difficult, from the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic to other events that rocked the globe. 

The themes for #IWD2021, ‘Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world’ and ‘#ChoosetoChallenge,’ celebrate the amazing efforts of women and girls around the world to shape a more equal future and recovery from the pandemic.

It is in line with the UN Women’s 65th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, regarding “women’s full and effective participation and decision-making in public life, as well as the elimination of violence, for achieving gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.” 

There is little inclusion of women in decision-making positions and low political participation in Nigeria, with 14 seats for women in the lower house out of 360 and eight out of 109 in the upper house. 

Despite the male-dominated Nigerian society (in the government and the private sector), some Nigerian women have achieved outstanding accomplishments, beating the odds of sexual harassment, stereotype, discrimination, and violence to occupy leadership positions.

They are also demonstrating courage by pushing for social justice and change. 

In their respective fields, the following women have strived for greatness as they stand out as an inspiration for other Nigerian women and youths. 

1. Dr. Amarachukwu Allison 

Ms. Allison diagnosed the first case of COVID-19 in Nigeria. She also uses her platform to offer free medical services and give information about the NCDC’s preventive and protective measures as per guidelines and protocols.

2. Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

Ms. Okonjo-Iweala began her tenure on March 1 as the director general of the World Trade Organisation. She is the first woman and the first African to hold the office. She is the first woman to serve as Nigeria’s finance minister, the first woman to serve in that office twice under two different presidents.

3. Asisat Oshoala

Ms. Oshoala plays for FC Barcelona Femení in the Primera División as a forward. She was named best player and was the highest goalscorer at the 2014 FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup. She was also named best player and second top goalscorer with the Super Falcons team who won the 2014 African Women’s Championship. In 2015, She won the BBC Women’s Footballer of the Year.

4. Funke Akindele-Bello

Ms. Akindele-Bello’s directorial debut film, ‘Omo Ghetto (The Saga),’ was named Nollywood’s highest-grossing movie of all time, breaking a four-year record held by Kemi Adetiba’s 2016 comedy movie, ‘The Wedding Party.’ The comedy film grossed N468,036,300 after three straight weeks of maintaining the number one spot. 

5. Feminist Coalition 

Feminist Coalition’s founding members Damilola Odufuwa, Odunayo Eweniyi, Layo Ogunbanwo, Ozzy Etomi, Ire Aderinokun, Laila Johnson-Salami, Karo Omu, Fakhrriyyah Hashim, Kiki Mordi, Oluwaseun Ayodeji Osowobi, Jola Ayeye, Tito Ovia, and Obiageli Ofili Alintah came together to support the #ENDSARS protests providing food, water, first aid kits, masks, medical and legal aids for the protesters.

6. Aisha Yesufu

Ms. Yesufu is the co-convener of the Bring Back Our Girls Movement, an advocacy group, focused on releasing the abducted Chibok girls in 2014. Ms. Yesufu, alongside other women of courage, took it upon themselves to campaign for the release of the schoolgirls, paving the way for the release of some of the girls.

She was also at the frontlines of the #ENDSARS protests, showing bravery as Nigerians demanded an end to police brutality. Through her actions, Ms. Yesufu challenges Nigerians to be brave and take their destiny into their own hands.

7. Tolulope Arotile

The late Ms. Arotile was the first-ever female combat helicopter pilot in the Nigerian Air Force. She was hit by a vehicle on July 14, 2020, at the Nigerian Air Force Base in Kaduna and eventually died. 

Ms. Arotile was instrumental in the fight against insurgency, especially in the north-central states, by flying several combat missions under Operation GAMA AIKI in Minna, Niger.

8. Ibukun Awosika

On September 7, 2015, Ms. Awosika became the first woman to be appointed First Bank of Nigeria’s chairman. She is the co-founder and a regular speaker at the After School Graduate Development Centre set up in 2011 to check the high unemployment rate in Nigeria.

Ms. Awosika was chairman of FBN Life Assurance Limited, FBN Capital Limited, and Kakawa Discount House Limited. In 2020, she was given the Forbes Woman Africa Chairperson Award in the Africa Forbes Woman Awards 2020.

9. Toun Okewale Sonaiya

In 2015, Ms. Okewale Sonaiya launched WFM radio, the first female-oriented radio station in sub-Saharan Africa. Before establishing WFM, she worked with Ogun State Broadcasting Corporation, Ray Power and Choice FM, using her voice to promote gender-related issues.

10. Oby Ezekwesili

In 2018, Ms. Ezekwesili was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. She was a co-founder of Transparency International, a global anti-corruption body based in Berlin, Germany. 

She was solid minerals and education minister under former President Goodluck Jonathan. She also served as the vice president of World Bank’s Africa division from May 2007 to May 2012. Ms. Ezekwesili was central to the #BringBackOurGirls campaign over Chibok schoolgirls’ abduction from their school’s hostel.