“The stories and names used in this article are fictional and meant only to illustrate the lived realities of many Nigerian women.”
Every day in Nigeria, millions of women wake up before sunrise to carry a burden that often goes unseen. They cook, clean, fetch water, take care of children, and look after elderly relatives without pay, recognition, or support. After that, many head out to farms, markets, or offices, where they work harder than most yet still earn far less than men.
This is why the hashtag #AllNigerianWomenMatter exists. It is not just a digital slogan. It is a reminder of how much Nigerian women give, how much they endure, and how little they are valued in return.
Statistics confirm this truth. Women make up almost half of Nigeria’s population, yet they hold less than six percent of seats in parliament. Nigerian women earn about 34% less than men, and according to the National Bureau of Statistics, women’s unemployment rate is consistently higher. These gaps touch every part of life, from health and politics to education and the workplace.
The Reality Behind the Hashtag
Consider Aisha, a mother of four in Kaduna. She spends her mornings cooking, fetching water, and caring for her children before heading to her stall at the local market. By the time she gets home, another round of household chores awaits her. None of this unpaid care work is counted in Nigeria’s GDP, yet it sustains families and communities every single day. Women like Aisha carry a double workload, managing unpaid home duties alongside income generating activities, while men are rarely expected to share the load.
This double burden spills into the labor market. In many offices and worksites, women earn less even when they do the same jobs as men. They are often excluded from training opportunities or denied promotions simply because of gender. In rural Nigeria, female farmers do most of the planting and harvesting but still struggle to access land ownership or loans. They work more but benefit less.
The exclusion continues in politics. During the 2023 elections, thousands of women lined up to vote, yet very few were on the ballot. Only a handful won political offices out of hundreds available. This underrepresentation silences women when laws are made, even when those laws directly affect their rights to inheritance, citizenship, and protection from violence.
Health and education tell the same story. Many women travel long distances to reach a clinic, only to be turned back because there are no doctors or supplies. Maternal mortality rates in Nigeria remain among the highest in the world. Girls also face barriers to education. Many drop out due to early marriage, period poverty, or cultural restrictions. Without education and health, women’s chances to advance are cut short before they even begin.
Even for those who manage to complete their education, the road is far from smooth. Despite being highly qualified, many young Nigerian women remain unemployed or underemployed. Fatima, a graduate in Abuja, has applied for countless jobs but is constantly asked about when she plans to marry or have children, questions men are never asked. Bias like this keeps capable women out of the workforce and wastes national talent.
The cost of this exclusion is heavy. When women are sidelined, the whole country suffers. The African Development Bank has shown that closing gender gaps in work could grow Nigeria’s GDP by up to twenty three percent in a decade. That growth is not just about money, it means better schools, stronger healthcare, and more opportunities for everyone.
#AllNigerianWomenMatter is a call to action. It is about recognizing women’s unpaid care work, ensuring fair pay in the labor market, opening up political spaces, and removing barriers in education and health. It is about building a country where women’s rights are not treated as optional extras but embraced as central to national progress.
Behind every statistic is a woman’s story, a mother who cannot access healthcare, a farmer without land rights, a girl forced to drop out of school, or a graduate denied a job. These stories are not isolated. They reflect the structural inequality that Nigerian women face every day. The call is clear. Until every Nigerian woman is recognized, valued, and empowered, Nigeria will continue to shortchange itself.
#AllNigerianWomenMatter is not just a hashtag. It is a demand for dignity, equality, and justice. Because when Nigerian women matter, Nigeria moves forward.
