Nigeria Commits To Global Pact On Women, Youth
BY RITA OYIBOKA
Nigeria played a visible and influential role at the Global Summit on Sustainable Futures for Women and Youth (GSWY 2025), held in Avcılar, Istanbul from April 7–11, 2025.
The summit brought together over 250 delegates from more than 60 countries to advance the United Nations’ Pact for the Future, focusing on empowering women and youth as leaders of sustainable development. Key outcomes included actionable proposals on gender equality, youth leadership, and global strategies to address pressing issues like gender-based violence.
All delegates, including those from Nigeria, left as Certified Sustainability Advocates, equipped to drive change in their communities and contribute to a global movement for a sustainable future
Leading Nigeria’s delegation, the Regional Director of the US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights (USIDHR), Ambassador Ibrahim Abubakar, stressed that the era of lip service is over.
According to him, the world must begin to take concrete steps towards sustainable development, especially for marginalised groups like women and youth.
Describing the summit as “a defining moment in international cooperation for development,” Abubakar noted that GSWY 2025 was historic for being the first global platform to submit actionable amendments to the United Nations’ Pact for the Future.
“This is proof that the future belongs to those ready to act, not just talk.
“Nigeria will not be left behind. We are aligning ourselves with these global priorities, and we will work to ensure our youths and women are not just empowered but prepared to lead,” he said.
Nigeria’s presence at the summit was marked by the participation of several private sector and civil society leaders, including Global Ambassador for gender priority strategy, Dr. Ogochuku Okekpolo, CEO of Oge9 Solutions, Avwunudiogba Eugenia Ogechi, Non-Executive Director at Kortch Consult Ltd, Ifukor Ello Mary, and CEO of 2P-Interiors Ltd, Precious Ohunyon.
Speaking with The Pointer, Amb. Ogochuku Okekpolo stressed the transformative power of investing in women. “Women are the backbone of every thriving society, nurturers, leaders, educators, and changemakers. When we invest in women, we empower a generation. Their impact ripples through the youth they raise, mentor, and inspire,” she said.
Quoting Mahatma Gandhi, she added, “The progress of any society can be measured by the progress of its women.”
Delegates at the summit engaged in intensive strategy sessions, policy dialogues, and a landmark Pact for the Future Roundtable, where formal proposals were submitted to reshape the United Nations’ future development framework.
Key proposals included recognising human and child trafficking as global peace and security threats, establishing a global mental health taskforce for disaster preparedness, and strengthening institutional and legal responses to gender-based violence and femicide.
The summit concluded with all participants certified as Certified Sustainability Advocates, tasked with taking the summit’s outcomes back to their respective countries and translating commitments into concrete, measurable actions.
