The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Affairs, Missus Zainab Maina, has appealed for the passage of pending bills that seeks to protect the rights of women.

Ms. Maina who made the appeal at an event to mark the International Women’s Day, in Abuja listed poor institutional capacities and lack of sectorial synergy in the implementation of the national gender policy.

As Nigeria joins the international community to celebrate the International Women’s Day, Nigerian women gathered to push for gender mainstreaming in all spheres of life.

The Women Affairs Minister, Zainab Maina, believes that a major step towards achieving the vision of ensuring gender equality begins with the enactment of laws that would protect women.

Other speakers at the event; including the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission, Arunmah Oteh and the Country Programme Director, United Nations Women, Grace Ongile, added that the economic empowerment of women should be paramount after legislation.