IWD: Family planning key to gender equality – TCI, DevComs

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

As Nigeria marks International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025, the Country Lead at The Challenge Initiative (TCI) Nigeria, Dr. Taiwo Johnson, has emphasized the role of family planning (FP) in empowering women to make informed reproductive choices and plan their futures.

Speaking at the celebration, Johnson stated that “by enabling women to make informed choices about their reproductive health, FP/childbirth spacing ensures better health outcomes, improved economic opportunities, and a higher quality of life for families and communities.”

Since 2017, TCI has supported the Nigerian government by providing technical assistance to 22 states, focusing on high-impact FP strategies and guiding states, local governments, and partners investing in family planning.

According to Johnson, FP reduces unintended pregnancies, lowers maternal and child mortality, enables women to complete their education, pursue economic opportunities, and promotes equality in decision-making.

However, challenges persist, including cultural and religious resistance, FP commodity stockouts, inadequate funding, and limited male involvement in FP decisions.

To sustain progress, he urged Nigeria to institutionalize FP training in medical and nursing schools, strengthen FP commodity security, integrate FP into Universal Health Coverage programs, and expand government funding for FP initiatives.

Also speaking, Suliyat Eletu, Communication/Knowledge Management Officer at Development Communications Network (DevComs), highlighted the 2025 IWD theme, Accelerate Action, stressing the need for rapid progress in gender equality.

“At DevComs, we strongly support accelerating women’s access to FP, which is more than just a health intervention—it is a catalyst for gender equality, economic empowerment, and sustainable development,” she said.