Chisom Mefor: Evaluating Women's Advancement on International Women’s Day

International Women’s Day 2026 recently passed, filled with heartwarming images, poetry, and honors. However, amidst all the revelry, a pressing question remained: Are we accurately measuring women's progress or simply paying it lip service?

Celebrated worldwide on March 8, International Women’s Day highlights enduring inequalities and the challenges that women continue to confront across various cultures. This year's theme, “Give to Gain”, urged individuals and organizations to envision a world devoid of biases and discrimination, advocating for diversity, equity, and inclusion. Across the globe, numerous organizations organized events, underscored women-led initiatives, and gathered resources for women-centric causes, reinforcing the belief that united efforts can foster progress.

While celebrations are important, they risk becoming mere performances without meaningful assessments. Although these events shine a light on achievements and good intentions, they often fail to address a more significant question: Are women's circumstances genuinely improving?

The quest for gender equality is not a new phenomenon; it has been present throughout history, transcending different cultures and socio-economic systems. Historically, even in pre-colonial Igbo society, women like the Umuada wielded considerable influence over family matters, marketplaces, and community decisions. However, challenges such as gender bias persisted in crucial areas like inheritance rights and representation in village assemblies.

At its essence, the concept of equality is often more intricate than it initially appears.

For example, prior to the 20th century in Europe, women faced significant restrictions: they were largely disenfranchised, married women could not possess property, and political arenas were dominated by men. Even the struggles for women's suffrage extended over centuries just to attain fundamental rights. This historical context starkly contrasts with pre- colonial Igbo systems, where women had structured and recognizable roles, despite existing limitations.

Fast forward to today, how much ground have we actually covered? In both Igbo communities and Western societies, have advancements transformed into real power and equality for women? Are their voices resonating in critical decision-making spaces? Are women leading initiatives, gaining visibility, and influencing significant outcomes?

Recognizing accomplishments is vital, but without a solid framework for measuring progress, annual celebrations risk being mere symbolic gestures rather than authentic indicators of change. Until we substantiate these queries with concrete data, we cannot definitively assess whether our efforts have impacted women's lives.

Quantifiable data reveals how effectively we are advancing in the struggle for equality, providing comparisons between past and present metrics. They narrate a story of impacts, progressions, and gaps, helping us determine if our initiatives yield transformative changes.

Within Nigeria's National Assembly, women possess less than 5% of the representation, a stark contrast to any realistic standards of equality. What is the female representation in the red chamber? How many women serve in the green chamber? What were the female numbers in the 9th versus the 10th Assembly? How many of these women initiated bills aimed at women? How many of these bills advanced to second readings, and ultimately passed into law? Most importantly, what obstacles did they encounter?

In the previous 9th Assembly, there were 8 female senators. Currently, that number has dwindled to just 4 out of 109 in the 10th Assembly, representing about 2.7% of Nigeria’s upper chamber. This reduction reflects the fragility of progress when it isn't tracked, sustained, or fortified.

The same evaluation principles extend to public health. Women’s equality can be gauged through maternal outcomes, reproductive rights, equitable healthcare access, and reduced exposure to gender-based vulnerabilities. Tragically, Nigeria remains one of the countries with the highest maternal mortality rates globally, reporting over 500 deaths per 100,000 live births. What has been the maternal mortality rate in 2025, and how does it compare to 2026? Are female patients receiving adequate care during childbirth?

Approximately 1 in 3 women in Nigeria has encountered physical or sexual violence at some point. This statistic has remained relatively constant across various examinations. Are we witnessing tangible changes over time or merely enhanced awareness of a persistent issue? Current data does not indicate significant improvement; generational violence against women remains high, often compounded by underreporting, suggesting the true figures might be even worse.

What if International Women’s Day transcended mere celebration, evolving into a platform of accountability? What if each year came with a “State of Women” report, detailing how women are faring across different countries, sectors, and essential power spaces?

We need to progress past discussions and workshops about barriers and embrace real measurements of power. The lingering question has been, “Are women represented?” Moving forward, we need to ask: “Is that representation effective?” Do women’s contributions hold significance within the decision- making framework? Recent incidents involving female legislators, like Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, demonstrate that holding leadership roles does not guarantee a secure environment for women to voice their opinions or protect their rights.

Merely having representation is insufficient; we must monitor impacts, hold the systems responsible, and advocate for change that benefits all women, not just those who are in the spotlight. To be candid, this isn't solely about celebrating women in power but about the tangible changes witnessed because of their presence.

Beyond governmental structures and historical narratives, we can implement these measurements even in workplace settings. Women should start asking vital questions: Who constitutes the hiring committee? Who spearheads projects? Who garners recognition? Who claims a place at the decision-making table?

Ultimately, what does genuine success look like?