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Middle-Class Women Push Through Nigeria’s Economic Tightrope in 2025.

by Women Times on April 4, 2025

By Prosper Mene, April 4, 2025

Amaka Okoli, a 34-year-old mother of two, used to type numbers in a Lagos bank. Today, she maneuvers a 16-seater bus through the city’s chaotic streets, a job she took up last year to keep her family afloat. “The bank salary couldn’t match the rising cost of everything,” she says, wiping sweat from her brow. “Driving pays better now.”

Okoli is one of countless middle-class Nigerian women redefining survival in an economy that grew 3.4% in 2024—its fastest pace in three years, but still feels like a squeeze for many. While the Bola Tinubu administration touts GDP gains driven by services and reforms like ending the petrol subsidy, the reality for women like Okoli is a daily grind of rising costs, stagnant wages, and shrinking opportunities.

For Nigeria’s middle class, loosely defined as households earning between ₦150,000 and ₦500,000 monthly—2025 has brought both resilience and reckoning. Women, often the backbone of these families, are adapting in remarkable ways. The Ladies on Wheels Association of Nigeria, a network of female commercial drivers, has swelled from six members in 2018 to over 5,000 today, spurred by economic necessity and a rejection of traditional roles. “We’re not waiting for handouts,” says Fatima Yusuf, the group’s coordinator. “We’re taking the wheel—literally.”

Yet, the numbers tell a tougher story. Food inflation, though slightly eased from its 2023 peak, hovers above 30%, devouring household budgets. The World Bank’s recent $1.08 billion loan, approved this week, promises to bolster education and nutrition, but only 15% of employed Nigerians—mostly men—work in the formal sector. Women, who dominate the informal economy (over 95% according to UN Women), see little direct relief. “I sell clothes online now,” says Chidinma Eze, a former teacher turned entrepreneur. “School paid ₦80,000 a month. I make triple that, but every profit goes to food and fuel.”

The naira’s float, a hallmark of Tinubu’s 2023 reforms, has stabilized somewhat, but exchange rates remain punishing for importers like Aisha Bello, a fabric trader in Kano. “Dollar costs mean I’ve lost customers,” she laments. “Middle-class women used to buy my lace for weddings. Now, they patch old dresses.”

This is the current situation of middle class women in Nigeria’s economic turmoil.

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Nigerian Women Rally for Gender Equality Amid Tariff Concerns.

by Women Times on April 3, 2025

By Prosper Mene

As Nigeria goes through a shifting economic landscape with the looming implementation of new U.S. tariffs set to begin on April 5, women across the country are raising their voices to ensure their perspectives are not sidelined. Today, a coalition of women’s rights organizations gathered in Abuja to demand greater inclusion in economic policy discussions, highlighting how trade changes could disproportionately affect women-led businesses and households.

The rally, organized by groups such as Women Advocates for Economic Justice (WAEJ) and TechHerNG, comes just days before the U.S. is expected to impose a 10% tariff on Nigerian exports, with a specific 14% rate targeting Nigeria, according to recent reports. These tariffs, part of President Donald Trump’s trade policy, are anticipated to impact key sectors like agriculture and textiles—industries where women play a significant role as producers and entrepreneurs.

“We cannot afford to be silent when decisions that affect our livelihoods are being made,” said Amina Yusuf, a spokesperson for WAEJ. “Women make up a large portion of Nigeria’s informal economy, and these tariffs could push many families deeper into poverty. We need a seat at the table.”

The demonstration saw hundreds of women march peacefully through the capital, carrying placards with messages like “Protect Women’s Work” and “Equality in Trade.” Participants called on the Nigerian government to prioritize gender-sensitive policies as it prepares to send a delegation to Washington to negotiate against the trade measures, as announced by Lesotho’s Trade Minister earlier this week in a similar context.

Economic analysts suggest that the tariffs could exacerbate existing challenges for Nigerian women, who already face limited access to credit, land ownership, and political representation. With Nigeria ranked 179th globally for women’s representation in parliament, according to the Inter-Parliamentary Union, advocates argue that the lack of female voices in decision-making amplifies these vulnerabilities.

The rally also spotlighted the resilience of Nigerian women amid adversity. Folake Adebayo, a textile trader from Lagos, shared her story: “I employ 15 women to weave and sell fabrics. If these tariffs raise costs or cut our exports, we’ll struggle to survive. The government must listen to us.”

In response, the Ministry of Women Affairs issued a statement acknowledging the concerns and promising to collaborate with trade officials to address gender impacts. However, activists remain skeptical, pointing to past unfulfilled commitments, including President Bola Tinubu’s unmet pledge to ensure 35% female representation in his cabinet.

As the April 5 deadline approaches, today’s rally is set on a broader call for empowerment and equity.

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Trapped in Iraq: Nigerian Women’s Desperate Plea for Rescue.

by Women Times on April 1, 2025

By Prosper Mene

A growing crisis has emerged as Nigerian women, lured to Iraq with promises of well-paying domestic jobs, find themselves ensnared in what activists are calling “modern slavery.” Reports of severe abuse, exploitation, and desperate cries for rescue have sparked outrage and calls for urgent action from both Nigerian and Iraqi authorities.

These women, often from rural communities with limited resources, are targeted by recruiters promising a better life abroad. However, upon arrival in cities like Baghdad and Basra, their dreams shatter. Survivors recount harrowing experiences of 20-hour workdays, physical and sexual violence, and confiscated passports under Iraq’s controversial “kafala” system, which ties workers’ legal status to their employers.

One survivor, Agnes, a 27-year-old from Nigeria, shared her ordeal from a hostel in Basra: “I just want to go home and treat myself, but I can’t. The pain won’t stop.” Agnes alleges she was raped at gunpoint by her employer, forced into a traumatic abortion, and left with debilitating injuries, yet her recruitment agency refuses to release her from a two-year contract.

Damilola Adekola, co-founder of Hopes Haven Foundation, a Nigerian NGO tracking these cases, described the situation as dire. “It’s a form of modern slavery,” Adekola said. “These women are told, ‘We’ve bought you, so you have to work.’ There’s no medical care, no rest—just obscene hours and constant threats.” The foundation has been inundated with pleas for help, but rescuing these women is complicated by their isolation and lack of documentation, leaving them unable to pinpoint their locations for authorities.

The issue gained traction late last year when stories of survivors like Agnes and Eniola surfaced, prompting investigations by Nigeria’s National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP). Since May 2023, NAPTIP has flagged exploitative recruitment drives to Iraq, identifying rogue agents now under scrutiny. Yet, activists argue that both Nigerian and Iraqi governments have been slow to act. “There’s no system to monitor these women,” Adekola noted. “If employers knew the Nigerian government was watching, they might think twice.”

Social media has amplified the crisis, with one high-profile case in early 2025 igniting public fury and pressuring authorities. Despite assurances from Iraq’s interior ministry to investigate, and a rare success in securing the return of Odunayo Eniola Isaac on January 3, 2025, many remain trapped. The International Organization for Migration estimates over 221,000 people in Iraq endure slavery-like conditions, with Nigerian women among the most vulnerable.

Advocates urge immediate intervention. “These are our sisters, our daughters,” said Adekola. “Every day they stay trapped is a day too long.” For Agnes and countless others, the plea is simply saying bring us home.

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From Hardship to Hope: A Nigerian Mother’s Journey Back Home.

by Women Times on March 28, 2025

By Prosper Mene .

Success (pseudonym) never imagined she’d return to Nigeria with little more than her daughter and a suitcase of shattered dreams. Three years ago, the 32-year-old mother left her village in Edo State, lured by promises of a better life in Libya. Instead, she found exploitation, danger, and despair. Today, she’s stitching together a new future—quite literally—as the owner of a budding clothing business, a testament to her resilience and the power of second chances.

Success’s story mirrors that of thousands of Nigerian women who migrate annually, driven by poverty, unemployment, and societal pressures to provide for their families. “I wanted my daughter to have what I didn’t,” she says, her voice steady despite the weight of her past. In Libya, she faced grueling labor and abuse, a far cry from the housekeeping job she’d been promised. When the opportunity to return came via an International Organization for Migration (IOM) program, she seized it, arriving back in Edo State in late 2023 with her young daughter in tow.

The homecoming wasn’t easy. Returnees like Success often face stigma—whispers of failure or worse from neighbors who don’t understand the ordeal. “People judged me,” she admits. “They thought I came back empty-handed, but I brought back my life.” Financially, she started from scratch, her savings depleted by the migration journey. Yet, with support from IOM’s reintegration initiatives, Success accessed vocational training and a small grant. She chose tailoring, a skill she’d dabbled in as a teenager, and opened a shop in her community last year.

Now, her modest stall buzzes with customers seeking custom dresses and repairs. “It’s not just about money,” she says, threading a needle with practiced ease. “It’s about showing my daughter we can rise again.” Her business is small but growing, a lifeline in a region where economic opportunities remain scarce.

Success’s journey exposes a broader narrative. Nigeria remains a hub for irregular migration, with many women risking everything for a shot at stability abroad. The pressures—unemployment, gender inequality, and family expectations—push them out, while programs like IOM’s aim to pull them back with dignity. Yet, reintegration is a fragile process. Experts note that without sustained support, returnees can slip back into the same despair that drove them away.

For Success, the contrast between her past and present fuels her resolve. “I left because I felt trapped,” she reflects. “Now, I stay because I’ve found a way to be free.” Her story isn’t just one of survival—it’s a quiet revolution, proving that even in the face of setbacks, Nigerian women are rewriting their futures, one stitch at a time.

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Nigerian Women Rise Up: Kaduna Case Ignites Fight Against Gender-Based Violence.

by Women Times on March 26, 2025

By Prosper Mene

In the bustling city of Kaduna, a courageous woman’s stand against years of marital rape and domestic abuse has become a rallying cry for Nigerian women demanding an end to gender-based violence. Today, her story—first brought to light by local journalist Joy Funmilola Oke—has galvanized activists, community leaders, and survivors, shining a harsh spotlight on a crisis that too often lurks in the shadows.

The woman, whose identity remains protected for her safety, filed for divorce this week after enduring a nightmare of physical and sexual assault at the hands of her husband. According to sources close to the case, the abuse unfolded in plain sight of their children, a detail that has fueled public outrage. “This isn’t just one woman’s fight,” said Aisha Mohammed, a Kaduna-based women’s rights advocate. “It’s a wake-up call. How many more must suffer before we act?”

The case is far from isolated. Nigeria’s National Human Rights Commission reported over 1,600 cases of gender-based violence in Kaduna State alone last year, though activists say the true number is likely higher, with many incidents unreported due to stigma or fear. The Kaduna woman’s decision to break her silence has struck a chord, inspiring a wave of solidarity. Today, dozens of women gathered outside the local courthouse where her divorce proceedings began, holding signs reading “No More Silence” and “Justice for Survivors.”

Local journalist Joy Funmilola Oke, who first shared the story, emphasized its broader implications. “This is a pattern—wives beaten, raped, dehumanized in their own homes,” she wrote in a widely circulated post. “It’s not ‘culture’ or ‘marriage.’ It’s violence, and it’s time we named it.” Her reporting has amplified the survivor’s voice, drawing support from across Nigeria and beyond.

Women’s groups are seizing the moment to push for change. The Kaduna chapter of the Nigerian Feminist Forum announced plans for a sensitization campaign, targeting rural communities where patriarchal norms often shield abusers. “We need education, enforcement, and empathy,” said Fatima Usman, the group’s coordinator. “This woman’s bravery shows us what’s possible when we refuse to stay quiet.”

The legal battle itself is a test case. Nigeria’s laws, including the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of 2015, offer protections on paper, but enforcement remains spotty. The survivor’s husband has reportedly denied the allegations, claiming they’re a ploy to tarnish his reputation. Legal experts say her case could set a precedent—if she wins. “The courts must send a message,” said Barrister Ngozi Eze, a human rights lawyer in Kaduna. “Impunity has thrived too long.”

Public reaction has been swift and fierce. On platforms like X, hashtags like #KadunaSurvivor and #EndGBVNigeria trended today, with users praising the woman’s resolve and calling for systemic reform. “She’s not just fighting for herself—she’s fighting for every woman trapped in silence,” one post read. Yet, challenges loom. Advocates warn that without sustained pressure, her story risks fading into the noise of Nigeria’s myriad crises.

For now, the unnamed survivor stands as a symbol of resilience. Her children, removed from the home for their safety, are with relatives as the case unfolds. “I want them to grow up knowing this isn’t normal,” she told a confidante, her words shared anonymously. In Kaduna, her fight is just beginning—but for Nigerian women, it’s a charge they’re ready to lead.

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Femicide Crisis Grips Nigeria: A Deadly Silence That Must Be Broken.

by Women Times on March 25, 2025

By Prosper Mene

In Nigeria, a chilling statistic is sounding the alarm: a woman is killed by a man every 2.5 days, according to a BBC report released last week. That’s over 140 women lost each year to violence, wives, daughters, sisters—based only on cases that make it to official records. Activists say the real toll is likely far worse, hidden by a shroud of underreporting, fear, and shame. Today, March 25, 2025, women’s organizations across the country are raising their voices louder than ever, demanding action to stop what they call a “silent epidemic” of femicide—the intentional killing of women because of their gender.

The BBC’s findings, drawn from police and media logs, paint a grim picture: most of these killings happen at home, often at the hands of husbands or partners. Yet, the numbers don’t tell the full story. “For every case we hear about, there are dozens more buried in silence,” says Ololade Ajayi, founder of DOHS Cares Foundation, a group fighting for women’s rights. “Families cover it up, police dismiss it, and survivors are too scared to speak. We’re losing our women, and it’s like no one cares.”

Take the story of Fatima, a 29-year-old from Kano who narrowly escaped death last year. She told advocates her husband beat her for months, once choking her until she blacked out. “I ran away with my baby when he threatened to kill me with a knife,” she said, her voice trembling. “The police told me to go back and ‘sort it out.’ I’m alive because I didn’t listen.” Fatima’s ordeal is one of many shared today by groups like the Nigerian Women’s Collective, who are rallying in cities like Lagos and Abuja with survivor tales that cut to the bone.

What’s driving this crisis? Experts point to a toxic mix of deep-rooted patriarchy, weak laws, and a justice system that often fails women. In Nigeria, femicide isn’t even a specific crime—killings like these get lumped under general murder charges, if they’re investigated at all. “When a crime isn’t named, it’s invisible,” Ajayi argues. “We need laws that say femicide is femicide, and we need them enforced.” The Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act exists, but activists say it’s too broad and poorly implemented, leaving abusers free and victims vulnerable.

Poverty and cultural norms add fuel to the fire. In many communities, women are seen as property, their worth tied to obedience. When they resist—like refusing a forced marriage or leaving an abusive home—violence often follows. A recent case in Lagos drove this home: on March 19, Peter Dike allegedly stabbed his wife to death in their Oke Ila Ilogbo home after an argument. She was the 43rd reported femicide victim this year alone, and March isn’t even over.

Women’s groups are now pushing for change with a clear list of demands: a national femicide tracking system, tougher penalties for perpetrators, and police training to take domestic violence seriously. “We can’t keep burying our daughters and calling it normal,” says Chika Oduah, a prominent activist. “This is a war on women, and it’s time society fought back.”

The government’s response? So far, it’s been muted. Officials have promised reviews of gender-based violence policies, but concrete steps remain elusive. Meanwhile, the body count rises, and the silence grows louder. For Nigeria’s women, the message today is urgent: this epidemic won’t end until the systems and the attitudes that prop it up are torn down.

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HIV Drug Shortage Threatens Nigerian Women as U.S. Aid Freeze Bites.

by Women Times on March 25, 2025

By Prosper Mene

A serious crisis looms over Nigeria’s healthcare system as a shortage of HIV drugs, triggered by a U.S. foreign aid freeze, threatens millions of lives, particularly women, who bear a disproportionate burden of the disease. The World Health Organization (WHO) sounded the alarm this week, warning that Nigeria is among eight countries at risk of exhausting its supply of life-saving antiretroviral (ARV) medicines in the coming months, a fallout from President Donald Trump’s January decision to pause aid funding.

In Nigeria, where nearly two million people live with HIV—ranking it second only to South Africa globally—women account for a significant portion of those affected. Health experts note that women, especially young girls and mothers, are more vulnerable due to social and economic factors, including limited access to education and healthcare. The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a cornerstone of Nigeria’s HIV response for over two decades, has been a lifeline, providing ARVs to millions. But with the aid freeze now in its third month, clinics are reporting empty shelves, and patients are being turned away.

“We’re seeing desperation,” said Dr. Amina Yusuf, a public health worker in Abuja. “Mothers come to me begging for drugs to keep their viral loads down—not just for themselves, but to protect their babies. Without these medicines, we’re risking a surge in mother-to-child transmission.”

The WHO estimates that disruptions could lead to over 10 million new HIV cases and three million deaths worldwide, with Nigeria poised to suffer heavily. “This could undo 20 years of progress,” warned WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus at a press conference on March 18. For Nigeria, where HIV prevalence hovers around 1.9% and women are disproportionately affected, the stakes are dire..

The aid freeze, enacted on Trump’s first day back in office as part of a spending review, has slashed funding to PEPFAR and other programs, leaving Nigeria scrambling for alternatives. While a partial waiver was issued in late January to resume some “life-saving” assistance, confusion persists, and supplies remain stalled. “The waiver is a bandage on a gaping wound,” said Chukwudi Okeke, a Lagos-based health advocate. “We need consistent funding, not stopgap measures.”

Personal stories underscore the crisis. Grace, a 32-year-old single mother from Port Harcourt, told reporters she’s been without her ARVs for two weeks. “I don’t want to die,” she said, echoing fears voiced across the country. Health workers warn that interruptions in treatment could spike viral loads, increase transmission, and foster drug-resistant strains—setting back Nigeria’s fragile gains against the epidemic.

With economic growth offering hope elsewhere, this health emergency casts a shadow over the nation’s progress. The government faces mounting pressure to bridge the gap, but resources are thin. As the clock ticks, Nigerian women and their families hang in the balance, awaiting a resolution that may not come soon enough.

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Gender Equality Crisis Deepens in Nigeria, Sparking Urgent Calls for Reform.

by Women Times on March 22, 2025

By Mene Prosper

A pressing gender inequality trend in Nigeria, reported by guardian Nigeria has laid bare a worsening gender equality crisis in Nigeria, igniting fresh outrage and demands for systemic change. Titled “Nigeria’s Gender Equality Crisis: Urgent Need for Reform,” the study ranks Nigeria a dismal 179th globally for women’s representation in national legislatures, spotlighting profound disparities in education, employment, and political power.

The report arrives amid a firestorm of controversy following the Nigerian Senate’s suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, who recently alleged sexual harassment by a senior colleague. Activists seize on this incident as a glaring example of the entrenched sexism plaguing the nation’s corridors of power. “This is not just one senator’s story—it’s a symptom of a system rigged against women,” said Chika Okeke, a Lagos-based women’s rights advocate. The timing has only fueled public anger, with protests echoing the global themes of International Women’s Day earlier this month: rights, equality, and empowerment.

Beyond politics, the report exposes broader societal failures. Women lag significantly behind men in access to quality education and decent jobs, with economic desperation driving some to transactional sex for survival.

Meanwhile, violence against women surges, with at least 24 femicide cases recorded this year alone, according to Project Alert. Efforts to repeal the 2015 Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act further threaten to unravel fragile protections.

Skepticism looms large over whether this report will jolt the government into action, given its track record of inertia on gender issues. “We’ve seen reports before—words without deeds,” Okeke added. Yet, with activists amplifying their voices and women like Akpoti-Uduaghan refusing to be silenced, pressure is mounting for Nigeria to confront its gender crisis head-on—or risk leaving half its population behind.