BY NONYE MOSES
On any ordinary day, the story of women is unfolding all around us. It is in classrooms, offices, markets, hospitals, and homes. It is in the women who wake before sunrise to prepare for the day, the women who show up to work and quietly keep things running, and the women who hold together families and communities in ways that often go unnoticed.
Every year on March 8, the world marks International Women’s Day. The day often comes with speeches, conferences, statistics, and discussions about progress and equality. Those conversations are important. They remind us how far women have come and how far there is still to go. But beyond the headlines, there is a quieter invitation this day offers. It asks us to pause, look around, and truly see the women in our lives.
Because the story of women is not only written in boardrooms, parliaments, or history books. It is written in everyday spaces in Nigeria—on the streets of Lagos, in the markets of Onitsha, in classrooms across Abuja, and in homes in villages along the Niger. It is written in the women we pass in corridors, the women we greet in offices, the women who quietly hold together the private corners of our lives, and the women who give without being asked, without recognition, without applause.
This year, the official International Women’s Day theme is “Give to Gain.” It reminds us that when we intentionally give support, recognition, opportunity, or mentorship to women and girls, everyone benefits. Giving is not just about charity or money. It is about lifting, advocating, trusting, and valuing women. It is about seeing the work, effort, and humanity of women in all spaces and acknowledging it. When we do that, we all gain—families, communities, workplaces, and society at large become stronger.
Think of the teacher in a Lagos public school who notices the quiet child struggling to read and chooses patience instead of dismissal. Think of the nurse at a bustling Abuja hospital who carries competence and kindness into every patient encounter, even on exhausting days. Think of the market trader in Kano who rises before dawn to set up her stall, not because it is easy, but because people depend on her. When we recognise and support these women, we help them gain visibility, confidence, and opportunity. And in doing so, we all gain too.
Consider the colleague who shows up every day in offices across Nigeria, quietly solving problems, keeping systems moving, and offering encouragement when it is needed most. Consider the mother, sister, or daughter who balances multiple responsibilities and somehow still finds the energy to care, teach, or guide others. These women carry a weight that is often invisible, yet their contribution is essential. Supporting them, acknowledging them, and giving them space to thrive is a direct application of this year’s theme.
Across Nigeria and the world, women continue to navigate lives that demand resilience. Many are building businesses, pursuing education while balancing family expectations, or holding households together while also contributing to the workforce. Strength for these women is not always a dramatic act. Often it is a daily decision to keep going, keep caring, and keep believing that their work matters.
The reality is that women carry more than what people see. They carry responsibilities, expectations, emotional labour, and sacrifices that accumulate quietly over time. And yet, even within these realities, women continue to create beauty, stability, and opportunity around them. They mentor younger women without formal titles. They share advice drawn from experience. They step in when help is needed. They build networks of support that strengthen communities. These acts of giving (of time, knowledge, guidance, and encouragement) embody the principle of “Give to Gain.” When women give, they empower not just themselves but everyone around them.
International Women’s Day is a reminder that celebrating women should not be limited to a select few whose achievements make headlines. It is also about recognising the women who shape everyday life in ways that are steady, generous, and often unnoticed. Recognition can be small but powerful. A word of appreciation, a moment of gratitude, or an act of support can make women feel seen and valued.
If you are a woman reading this, know that your presence matters in ways that may not always be immediately visible. The effort you put into your work, your family, your community, and your aspirations does not disappear into the background. It adds meaning, strength, and resilience to the world around you. Giving yourself, your time, your voice, and your energy is not just valuable to others, it strengthens you too. That is the essence of “Give to Gain.” Every act of giving and being seen fuels a cycle of empowerment and possibility.
This is why International Women’s Day is more than speeches, hashtags, or campaigns. It is a call to action and a reminder that progress happens when women are intentionally supported, celebrated, and trusted. Recognition is not always grand. It can start with simply noticing, acknowledging, and appreciating. It is in the moments when someone is heard, valued, or encouraged that the most profound gains are made.
Today, as we celebrate women, let us remember to look beyond public recognition. Let us see the teacher who guides, the professional who perseveres, the mother who nurtures, the neighbour who offers support, the student who pushes forward, and the countless women whose daily work quietly shapes the world. Giving attention, respect, and acknowledgement is how we all gain.
To every woman, in every space, in every season of life, know this: your work, your resilience, your voice, your care, and your very presence carry a value that no title, spotlight, or applause can define. The world is better, stronger, and infinitely more human because you are in it. Today, we see you. Today, we honour you. Today, we celebrate you and we promise that your contributions are not invisible, your presence is not unnoticed, and your worth is immeasurable
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