Across art, advocacy and healthcare, three Nigerian women echo the original spirit of International Women’s Day(IWD), proving that when women give knowledge, courage and opportunity, society gains strength
By Janefrances Chibuzor
More than a century ago, a German activist stood before a gathering of women and proposed an idea that would outlive generations.
Her name was Clara Zetkin, and in 1910 she suggested that women across the world should dedicate a day each year to demanding their rights and celebrating their contributions to society.
That proposal later gave birth to International Women’s Day(IWD), a global movement now observed in more than 100 countries. Yet the true meaning of the day is rarely found in speeches alone. It lives in the quiet but determined work of women who transform opportunities for others.
In Lagos, that spirit finds expression in the life and work of Nike Okundaye, the internationally celebrated artist and Founder/Chief Curator of Nike Art Gallery.
For decades, Okundaye has built more than an art institution. She has built a platform of empowerment — particularly for women whose talents might otherwise remain unseen.
Inside the towering gallery space, where vibrant paintings and textiles narrate African history, the mission goes far beyond aesthetics. It is about equipping women with skills that can transform their economic reality.
Speaking on this year’s IWD theme, “Give To Gain,” Okundaye explained that the celebration at the gallery is deliberately practical.
“This year we are organising a workshop where women can learn new skills that will add value to their lives,” she said.
Participants will be taught how to create simple but marketable items such as bookmarks, notepads and handcrafted bangles — creative skills that can easily translate into income.
In an era when many initiatives rely on sponsorships and grants, the programme carries a more personal commitment.
“There is no sponsor,” Okundaye noted with a quiet smile. “The gallery is sponsoring everything from our own pocket, as we normally do.”
What makes the event even more significant is its inclusive approach. For the first time, the workshop is deliberately welcoming women living with disabilities, ensuring that creativity becomes a pathway to dignity and independence.
.Alongside the training sessions, the gallery will also host an exhibition showcasing artworks produced by women artists — a celebration of resilience expressed through colour, canvas and imagination.
Yet empowerment is not only expressed through art. Sometimes it begins with something even more powerful: the courage to own one’s voice.
That belief resonates strongly with Ebelechukwu Enemchukwu, whose message to women focuses on self-worth and visibility.
For her, empowerment begins with recognising personal value and refusing to shrink in spaces where women have historically been underestimated.
“Every day I give my time, my intellect, my knowledge and my personal blueprint for life,” she reflected in a message marking the celebration.
She challenges long-held assumptions that often limit women’s aspirations.
“To women who feel that marriage or childbirth marks the end of ambition, I offer a rethink,” she said. “And to those who hesitate to share their gifts for fear of judgment, remember that no one will trumpet your gifts better than you.”
Her perspective touches on a reality many women quietly confront — the struggle between societal expectations and personal dreams. But when women learn to believe in their voices, she argues, they become catalysts for wider change.
That philosophy finds a different but equally powerful expression in the healthcare and social development sector through the work of Onyinye Udeze, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Emerald Healthcare and Auxiliary Social Work Enterprise.
For Udeze, empowerment means preparing women to serve communities while building sustainable livelihoods.
Through training and mentorship programmes, her organisation equips women with caregiving and social support skills, helping them provide care for vulnerable individuals while gaining economic stability.
“Advancing gender equality remains a priority for us,” she explained.
Beyond technical training, the organisation also promotes inclusive workplace policies such as equal opportunity, professional growth and work-life balance.
But the mission goes deeper than professional development.
“We focus on people’s emotional, psychological, physical and social wellbeing,” she said. “Our goal is to ensure that vulnerable adults receive the care and dignity they deserve.”
For Udeze, the connection between women’s empowerment and national development is clear.
“When women are empowered with skills and opportunities, families become stronger and societies become healthier,” she noted.
Taken together, the stories of Okundaye, Enemchukwu and Udeze illustrate three powerful dimensions of empowerment: creativity, confidence and care.
One uses art to open economic doors.
Another inspires women to claim their voices.
The third strengthens communities through compassion and professional support.
More than a century after Clara Zetkin’s idea first sparked a movement, these Nigerian women are living proof that the message of International Women’s Day continues to evolve.
Not merely as a date on the calendar — but as a daily commitment to lift others.
And perhaps that is the truest meaning of the theme “Give To Gain.”
Because when women share knowledge, courage and opportunity, the reward extends far beyond individual success.
It transforms communities and ultimately, nations.
