The Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) Gender Team Lead, Ms Adekemi Omole, says justice remains central to women’s development.
Speaking on Voice of Nigeria’s Women and Development programme, kickstarting the global commemoration of the 2026 International Women’s Day, she renewed calls for stronger justice systems, gender-responsive and inclusive policies to advance women’s rights.
The 2026 theme, “Rights, Justice, Action, For ALL Women and Girls”, calls for justice, rights and action for women and girls across the globe.
Omole emphasised that justice is critical to the agency of women in all spheres and sectors.
“Without justice, women’s voices will not be heard. If we do not give women a voice, we haven’t given them agency. And if we don’t give them the agency, we haven’t given them the power,” she stated.
She noted that insecurity, conflict and displacement further weaken access to justice, particularly for women and children.
“And as we’ve seen, even just from the case in Nigeria, how many times women, unfortunately suffer and children, you know, suffer most from insecurity,” she said, adding that survivors often bear “the whole burden, the burden of care.”
On government policy direction, Omole commended efforts toward social development but emphasised inclusive design.
“It is impossible, very critical that women who would use these systems, like they’re asked for their needs and the approach to which the processes are implemented, you know, we hear it from them,” she said. “So we should just not leverage a top-down approach, but we must ensure that we use a down-top approach.”
Assessing progress from the centre’s Gender and Inclusion Summit and its Purple Book recommendations, she said gains have been recorded in women’s economic participation, but gaps remain.
“However, we still see issues around women’s political participation. We’re not where we should be. We still see things around health indicators. We’re not where we should be,” she noted.
The Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) Gender Team Lead added that the centre’s model is rooted in evidence and inclusive designs, calling for “a multi-pronged approach, a top-down approach and a down top approach.”
On financing justice systems, Omole underscored the need for adequate budgetary releases beyond appropriations.
“You can only, without money, you can’t move the needle, particularly around issues around GBV
“Without money and budgetary allocation into the system, it just almost sucks,” she said.
Omole advocated mandatory gender-responsive budgeting saying; “It has to be mandatory because you would only cover for what you plan for. So you can’t assume that a blind budget will meet everyone’s needs.”
On measurable commitments ahead of the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women, Omole called for functional systems and clear reporting channels, urging evidence-based reforms.
“Let’s do a rapid analysis of the context… then we can then move to implementing, you know, based on what evidence has told us,” she said, adding that reforms must combine “a multi-pronged approach, a top-down approach and a down top approach.” Omole reiterated.
Situating it within national priorities in the broader women empowerment drive of the Renewed Hope Agenda under Iman Sulaiman-Ibrahim, she commended current efforts, underscoring greater operational imperatives: “We need systems. We need structures. And we need to put money into those structures to ensure that those systems are functional.”
According to Omole, embedding such evidence-based, budget-backed mechanisms within federal and state initiatives would reinforce accountability and deepen justice-driven gender inclusion nationwide.
The Policy Innovation Centre, an initiative of the Nigeria Economic Summit Group is Africa’s first national behavioural initiative, supporting governments and stakeholders in making evidence-based decisions and innovative solutions.
PIC hosts the annual Gender and Inclusion Summit to advance gender-inclusive policies across Africa. The Purple Book from each yearly convergence captures Summit insights, commitments, and provides an action roadmap for governments, civil society and the private sector.