How Nigerian brands champion women’s empowerment on IWD 2025
By Seun Johnson
This year, Nigerian brands stepped up in remarkable and extraordinary ways, turning International Women’s Day into a robust celebration of women through bold initiatives and unwavering commitment to empowerment.
From financial institutions to food and beverages, fashion and several other industries, these brands didn’t just mark the occasion, they used the occasion to drive meaningful stories and communicate positive brand narratives across different market segments.
Just like the previous years, the 2025 International Women’s Day, held across the world on Saturday March 8, resonated deeply with the theme: “Accelerate Action.”
It emphasised the need to advance gender parity, inspiring brands to harness the momentum for the launch of litany of programmes designed to empower women and champion their causes across different sectors.
Many of these brands leveraged their social media platforms to amplify the essence of womanhood, highlighting the invaluable contributions of women in driving progress within their organizations and society at large.
In celebrating the day, Coca-Cola Hellenic Bottling Company, a manufacturer and distributor of Coca-Cola brands reinforced its commitment to gender equality through initiaves like its flagship women in leadership programme that ensures more opportunities for women to grow and lead.
The company wrote on its LinkedIn page: “Happy International Women’s Day!
This year’s IWD 2025 is accelerate action because real progress happens when we take action together.
“At Coca-cola HBC, we are committed to gender equality through initiaves like our flagship women in leadership programme ensuring more opportunities for women to grow and lead,”
Also celebrating the day, Nigerian Breweries plc wrote: “At Nigerian Breweries, women are not just part of our story—they are driving it forward, from brewing excellence in our breweries across the country to leading strategies in boardrooms.
“This International Women’s Day, we celebrate the incredible Women of NB.”
On its part, UAC Food marked International Women’s Day with a virtual summit, creating a platform for its female workforce to engage with Mrs Bisola Olusanya, Lagos State commissioner for Agriculture.
The summit titled Breaking the Bias in Modern-Day Work Culture provided an inspiring and insightful experience. It was also an avenue to empower attendees with knowledge and foster meaningful discussions on workplace inclusivity.
Also celebrating women on IWD 2025, MTN Nigeria called on governments, businesses and individuals to continue supporting women entrepreneurs. According to the Telecoms giant, “we must break down the barriers, remove the obstacles and ensure that women have the resources, the rights and the opportunities they need to thrive.”
In the same vein, Airtel Nigeria focused on empowering women and celebrating their achievements through a mix of events, messages, and social media engagement, as evidenced by their past celebrations and the broader context of the IWD.
Nestlé Professional, the Out of Home division of Nestlé Nigeria, commemorated the day by hosting the 10th edition of its impactful Business of Food workshop in Benin. According to a statement by the company, the initiative has empowered over 2,000 food businesses across Nigeria in just three years, providing vital skills and knowledge to enhance operations, foster growth, and increase revenues.
In its own way, FirstBank Nigeria Plc, launched a dollar-denominated money market fund for its female employees under the FirstBank Women Network. The Group CEO, Olusegun Alebiosu, made the announcement on Friday at the bank’s International Women’s Day celebration in Lagos.
For Rite Foods Limited, it was a day to recognise and celebrate the remarkable achievements of women, particularly those breaking barriers in traditionally male-dominated fields such as engineering, supply chain, technology, and sales.
In a statement released by the company, it said, “we are committed to fostering an inclusive and empowering workplace where women thrive, lead, and drive innovation.”
While the list of Nigerian brands that celebrated the International Women’s Day 2025 is inexhaustible, one thing that remains very clear is that they were no longer just paying lip service to gender equality; they were driving real conversations and actions.
From thought-provoking panel discussions to impactful mentorship programs and commitments to workplace equity, companies demonstrated that celebrating women goes beyond a single day.
This year’s edition was not just a moment but a movement, proving that when brands champion inclusivity with purpose, they help shape a future where bias is truly broken.
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