The National Gender Policy was developed in 2006 to provide strategic policy guidance for mainstreaming gender at all levels as well as address the inequalities that exist in the socioeconomic sphere. In tandem with emerging global trends, particularly as the global development agenda translated from the Millennium Development Goals to Sustainable Development Goals, a review of the National Gender Policy became expedient to address current challenges.
Since its inception, the policy statement and its directives have been bolstered through various regional and international agreements, to which Nigeria is a party; aimed towards gender justice, gender equality, women’s empowerment, and social inclusion. The ERGP – the Nigeria Economic Recovery and Growth Plan and its recent review – the new Nigeria’s National Economic Plan makes a national commitment to re-dressing long-term systemic discrimination against women, identifying and overcoming the limitations to the empowerment of women and men, and social inclusion issues; and ultimately creating a society that values gender balance and equity for ALL.