Nigeria has secured another diplomatic milestone following the re-election of Mrs. Esther Eghobamien-Mshelia to the United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW) for a second four-year term.
Mrs. Eghobamien-Mshelia was re-elected during elections held on June 26 at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, where she emerged successful in a highly competitive contest involving candidates from eight countries. A total of 123 United Nations Member States participated in the voting.
Reacting to the development, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, FSI, described the victory as a major diplomatic success that reflects the international community’s confidence in Nigeria’s commitment to advancing gender equality and protecting the rights of women and girls.
She noted that the re-election underscores both Mrs. Eghobamien-Mshelia’s proven expertise and Nigeria’s increasing influence in shaping global policies on women’s rights and gender equality.
According to the Minister, the achievement builds on Nigeria’s recent gains at the 69th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69), where several Nigerian states pledged to accelerate the domestication and implementation of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against Women (CEDAW).
She said Nigeria’s continued presence on the CEDAW Committee would further strengthen Africa’s voice in global human rights discussions while ensuring the country contributes actively to the development of international standards on gender equality.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim attributed the successful outcome to the collaborative efforts of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Nigeria’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, the National Assembly, state governments, development partners, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, as well as other stakeholders.
She also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing the leadership that has placed women, families and vulnerable groups at the centre of the Renewed Hope Agenda through policies promoting social inclusion and gender-responsive governance. She added that the declaration of 2026 as the Year of Families and Social Development further demonstrates the administration’s commitment to sustainable national development.
The Minister equally applauded the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for the Renewed Hope Initiative, which she said has empowered thousands of women across the country through entrepreneurship support, skills acquisition and economic empowerment programmes.
She expressed appreciation to the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, Nigeria’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Senator (Dr.) Jimoh Ibrahim, alongside members of Nigeria’s diplomatic and technical teams, for their strategic engagements that contributed to the successful election.
Congratulating Mrs. Esther Eghobamien-Mshelia on her re-election, Sulaiman-Ibrahim expressed confidence that she would continue to serve with distinction, professionalism and integrity while advancing the objectives of CEDAW at the global level.
She reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to translating the international recognition into tangible benefits for Nigerian women and girls through sustained legal reforms, effective policy implementation, economic empowerment, stronger protection mechanisms and enhanced institutional accountability.
Describing the victory as a collective achievement for all Nigerians, the Minister said it highlights the country’s growing diplomatic relevance and demonstrates the impact of strategic engagement, technical competence and national unity in advancing Nigeria’s interests on the global stage.
