As March comes to an end, a month in which we celebrated International Women’s Day and reinforced commitments to gender equality, it is essential to reflect on the significance of this global movement and the urgent actions needed to drive lasting change. Observed annually on March 8th, International Women’s Day (IWD) serves as a powerful reminder of both the progress made and the persistent challenges that women face worldwide. It is a day to honor achievements, amplify women’s voices, and push for policies that promote equity across all sectors.
This year’s theme, “Accelerate Action,” highlighted the need to move beyond conversations and symbolic gestures to implement real, measurable change. While strides have been made in promoting women’s rights, barriers such as gender-based violence, pay inequity, and limited access to leadership opportunities continue to hinder true equality. The theme called on individuals, organizations, and policymakers to take bold, strategic steps toward dismantling these obstacles and ensuring that progress is both sustainable and inclusive.
At TAConnect, we embraced this call to action by actively participating in key conversations, influencing policy discussions, and fostering inclusive spaces where women’s rights took center stage. Throughout March, our engagements, ranging from high-level summits to artistic expressions, reflected our dedication to ensuring that gender equality remains a priority beyond Women’s Month.
Setting the Stage: Pre-IWD Policy Summit
As February drew to a close, our Executive Director, Dr. Lilian Anomnachi, joined distinguished panelists at the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) Summit on February 28th. The panel, “What are the Opportunities for Accelerating Gender Justice in Nigeria?” provided a platform for Dr. Anomnachi to share her expertise on critical gaps in maternal health services and innovative solutions to improve healthcare access for women in rural areas.
This timely discussion aligned perfectly with the approaching International Women’s Day and set the tone for a month dedicated to transforming commitments into tangible outcomes for women and girls across Nigeria.
International Women’s Day Celebration
On March 8th, TAConnect joined the global community in celebrating International Women’s Day 2025. We reaffirmed our organizational commitments to supporting women in leadership roles, ensuring pay equity, and creating inclusive policies that empower women to thrive. We recognized that the path to equality requires moving beyond promises to meaningful implementation and invited our community to share concrete steps they’re taking to advance women’s equality.
From Conversation to Action
The momentum continued March 10th when we hosted an International Women’s Day event at our office. Participants engaged in thought-provoking discussions led by Oghenefego Ofili, PhD, who provided valuable insights on workplace allyship and addressing unconscious bias. The event was enhanced by the presence of partners like Mswitch, reinforcing our shared commitment to creating inclusive spaces. Through interactive activities and personal pledges, participants charted a course for advancing gender equality in their spheres of influence.
Global Advocacy: UN Commission on the Status of Women
TAConnect’s activities extended to the international stage when Dr. Anomnachi participated in the 69th session of the UN Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69). A highlight of her experience was the “Women Rise for All: Turning Hope into Action” session led by UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina J. Mohammed, which emphasized that hope alone cannot drive change, meaningful progress demands collective action, urgency, strategic investment, and robust accountability.
Key takeaways from CSW69 included the importance of women’s leadership at every level, the reality of pushback against women’s rights, the necessity of economic justice, zero tolerance for gender-based violence, and the critical role of education and technology inclusion. The global commitments made at CSW69 reinforced the need to translate words into real action through policies, investments, and systemic change.
Celebrating Womanhood Through Art
Rounding out the month, Dr. Anomnachi represented TAConnect at the biannual Celebrating Womanhood Art Gala on March 28th in Abuja. Hosted by Nigerian Health Watch, the exhibition theme “Her Strength in Every Story: Creative Expressions for Women’s Health” showcased powerful artworks depicting women’s health experiences. This collaborative effort between Nigerian Health Watch, the National Gallery of Art Nigeria, and the Female Artists Association of Nigeria demonstrated how creative expression can drive social change and amplify women’s voices.
Looking Forward: Beyond International Women’s Month
As International Women’s Month concludes, TAConnect remains committed to accelerating action year-round. We recognize that achieving gender equality requires sustained effort and collaboration across sectors.
We invite our community to join us in converting the energy of March into ongoing commitment. Together, we can create a world where women’s rights are non-negotiable, and equality is a lived reality for all.
