Stakeholders have called for more deliberate and collaborative efforts to improve women's health and promote sustainable development in Nigeria, citing the daily struggles women face. The appeal was made during the 2026 Worldwide Organisation of Women (WOW) Conversation held in Awka, Anambra State, where participants stressed that prioritising women's health is critical to achieving sustainable development.
Key Messages from the Event
Speaker after speaker emphasised that a healthy woman is central to family stability, economic productivity, and societal prosperity. According to the stakeholders, greater attention to women's health would serve as a pathway to sustainable development and improved quality of life for women and their communities.
Presentations and Discussions
Presentations at the event included “Cultural Norms vs Women’s Health” by social worker and Founder of Davina Care Foundation, Yohanna Racheal, and “Mental Health Awareness” by Chinenye Ilona, a Certified Sexual Assault Trauma Counsellor at Ntasi Centre, Enugwu-Ukwu.
In her welcome address, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of WOW Africa, Chief (Mrs.) Carol Ugochukwu, called for urgent action to address systemic barriers that continue to undermine women’s well-being. Represented by the organisation’s Secretary, Mrs. Ngozi Chukwujekwu, Ugochukwu urged policymakers to recognise the value of unpaid care work performed by women.
“Unpaid care work by women is real work, and chronic exhaustion among women is a serious public health crisis that deserves urgent attention,” she said.
Keynote Address
Speaking on the conference theme, “Healthy Women, Sustainable Society,” the keynote speaker and former Anambra State Commissioner for Health, Dr. Joe Akabuike, noted that adopting healthy lifestyles and maintaining a health-conscious disposition could significantly improve the life expectancy of Nigerian women, currently estimated at 55.8 years. He encouraged women to prioritise regular medical check-ups and instil positive values in their children as a foundation for building a healthier and more responsible society.
Looking to the Future
In a thought-provoking presentation titled “The Future,” delivered by the Media Director of WOW Africa and programme anchor, Dr. Ify Aronu, on behalf of WOW Executive Director, Attorney Amaka Akudinobi, participants were reminded that the future of African women and girls must be better than that of previous generations. The presentation, co-delivered with two students of Capital City Secondary School, Awka, emphasised the need to nurture and support one another, share knowledge and opportunities, and collectively eliminate harmful cultural practices that threaten the health, dignity, welfare, and well-being of women and girls.
