On behalf of the people of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), the women of Nigeria, and the entire Nigerian populace, the FCTA Women Affairs Secretariat, under the leadership of the Pioneer Honorable Mandate Secretary, Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, joins the global community in marking the International Day of Care and Support.

Today, we recognize the profound contribution of care work, often unacknowledged, to the fabric of our society. Across Nigeria, millions of women and girls devote their lives to unpaid and underpaid care work, silently underpinning the functioning of our homes, communities, and economies. These women remain the unsung heroes of our social and economic systems, yet their efforts are rarely accounted for in our national priorities or budgets.

As UN Women has highlighted, if women’s unpaid care work were assigned monetary value, it would exceed 40 per cent of GDP in some countries. In Nigeria, this issue is no less pressing. The burden of care falls disproportionately on women, particularly the most marginalized, including those in informal work, migrant women, and women living in poverty. These groups shoulder the largest share of care work, restricting their access to education, formal employment, and opportunities to fully participate in society.

We must confront this disparity head-on. The care sector is not just a vital part of our society but a critical investment for gender equality. It is a human rights issue at its core—one that drives gender inequality, economic marginalization, and poverty. By failing to value care work, we are failing the very individuals who make our society thrive.

The FCTA Women Affairs Secretariat stands in solidarity with the call for bold actions to transform our care systems. We echo the Human Rights Council’s call for a human rights-based approach to care and support, and we align ourselves with the global efforts to promote care systems that enable women and girls to unlock their full potential.

As we reflect on the advances being made globally—from national care systems in Latin America, to Kenya’s data-driven care policies, to Canada’s investment in affordable and inclusive childcare—we must ask ourselves: What can Nigeria do to ensure that care is valued, supported, and sustained?

The answer lies in our collective commitment to transform care systems at the national and regional levels. We must invest in comprehensive care infrastructures, promote policies that protect and uplift caregivers, and ensure that care work is equally shared. When we do so, we are not only uplifting women but building thriving, equitable societies for future generations.

In this spirit, the FCTA Women Affairs Secretariat pledges to continue advocating for the transformation of care and support systems in Nigeria. We will work with our partners—both local and international—to ensure that care work is no longer undervalued, but seen as the foundation of a prosperous and fair society. Together, we can build a future where care work is no longer invisible, but celebrated and supported, for the benefit of all.

Signed,
Dr. Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi,
Pioneer Honorable Mandate Secretary,
FCTA Women Affairs Secretariat.