By Joy Umo
Wives of state governors under the umbrella of the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum (NGSF) have renewed their commitment to intensifying the fight against Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV) and eradicating child labour across the country.
The declaration was made in Calabar at the close of the Forum’s 5th Annual Retreat, which convened 22 First Ladies to review ongoing programmes and outline priority areas for the year 2026.
The gathering offered an opportunity for members to evaluate progress, share experiences, and harmonise strategies to strengthen their interventions on social justice, women empowerment and child rights protection.
In a communiqué released at the end of the meeting, the First Ladies pledged to sustain advocacy and support for the implementation of SGBV laws, improved survivor services and stronger accountability mechanisms in states.
They also threw their weight behind the Reserved Seats for Women Bill, vowing to scale up engagement with policymakers to increase female representation at all levels of government.
The Forum resolved to continue pushing for the full adoption of six months’ paid maternity leave in states yet to implement the policy. According to the communiqué, extending maternity leave is vital to boosting maternal and infant wellbeing and aligns with global best practices.
Members further recommitted themselves to campaigns aimed at reducing maternal deaths and improving access to healthcare for children through partnerships with donor agencies, relevant ministries, civil society groups and other critical stakeholders.
Strengthening routine immunisation—particularly in HPV vaccination, measles and rubella immunisation, and hepatitis screening—also featured prominently in their resolutions. The First Ladies pledged to work closely with health institutions and community actors to drive uptake across all states.
A key highlight of the retreat was the renewed partnership with the Ministry of Labour and Employment to combat child labour through advocacy, policy support and community-based awareness programmes.
The communiqué underscored the Forum’s dedication to collective action, peer support and shared learning, emphasising that united efforts remain essential to accelerating development outcomes for women, children and families across Nigeria.