By Jane Okeke
Nigeria’s gender leadership gap and the growing need for sustainable investment in women’s health and empowerment have come under scrutiny at a stakeholder dialogue in Abuja, with experts calling for practical reforms to dismantle barriers holding women back.
The Executive Director of SIL Foundation, Mrs Ubile Charity Lawson, said the foundation was committed to improving the lives of vulnerable women, particularly widows, through healthcare support, educational scholarships and empowerment initiatives. In her welcome address at Transcorp Hilton Abuja on Wednesday, she urged stakeholders to build partnerships that deliver lasting benefits to underserved communities.
Delivering the keynote address, President of the Royal College of Physicians, United Kingdom, Professor Mumtaz Patel, highlighted the sharp disparity between women’s participation in healthcare and their representation in senior leadership. She cited figures indicating that women make up about 70 per cent of the healthcare workforce but occupy only five per cent of senior leadership positions in low- and middle-income countries.
Patel also cited Nigeria’s reported ranking of 144th out of 146 countries on a gender-equity index, identifying discrimination, cultural expectations, caregiving responsibilities and limited professional support as barriers to women’s advancement.
She called for institutional reforms, mentorship, flexible working arrangements and leadership development programmes, stressing that empowering women requires changing systems and policies, not merely expecting individuals to overcome existing obstacles.
The Country Director of Girl Effect Nigeria, Mrs Boladale Akin-Kolapo, warned that dependence on international aid threatens the sustainability of programmes supporting women and adolescent girls. She urged Nigeria to strengthen domestic funding and ensure that development priorities reflect the needs of its citizens.
The Federal Capital Territory Secondary Education Board commended SIL Foundation for providing scholarships and school supplies to vulnerable students. Its representative said 92 students benefited during the 2025/2026 academic session, while 120 students across 12 government senior secondary schools received support for the 2026/2027 session.
Representatives of Women in Public Health Leadership Africa WiPHLA and Well Life Foundation called for stronger partnerships to improve healthcare access, strengthen women’s leadership and support vulnerable communities. WiPHLA said its network comprises more than 600 women across 29 countries, while Well Life Foundation pledged continued collaboration with SIL Foundation.
In his vote of thanks, SIL Foundation Co-Founder, Mr Stanley Lawson, urged non-governmental organisations and civil society groups to pool their limited resources to reach more vulnerable people. He said sustained collaboration was essential to expanding the impact of interventions for widows, struggling families and children, beyond the commitments made at the dialogue.
