In a forthright and decisive speech on this year’s International Women’s Day, OHANAEZE NDIGBO throws light on the condition of Nigerian women who are suffering the burden of the country’s worsening economic problems. As Nigeria is on the verge of bankruptcy, President Tinubu must take strong steps to choose a woman to lead the national economic team, in line with the theme of International Women’s Day 2024: “Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.”

The hard reality of Nigeria’s current economic landscape makes it difficult for any administration to achieve the goals reflected in this year’s Women’s Day theme.

Nigerian women are the most vulnerable victims of the current problems, with frightening maternal mortality rates due to insufficient access to affordable healthcare remedies. The persistent surge of inflation has wreaked havoc on small and medium-sized companies, the majority of which are run by market women, compounding the already terrible conditions faced by Nigerian women who struggle to provide even one meal per day for their children or afford basic educational fees.

OHANAEZE NDIGBO urges President Tinubu to act quickly to avert Nigeria’s getting near a collapse. It is critical to recognise that the current economic team is unprepared for dealing with the complexities of the crisis, and their efforts will not be sufficient to repair the irreversible harm that has already been done. A seasoned Nigerian female economist with global expertise holds the key to pulling Nigeria back from the verge of catastrophic collapse and pouring fresh life into the country’s bleak economic environment.

Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Secretary-General of OHANAEZE NDIGBO, emphasises the hard fact that Nigerian women have little to celebrate when compared to their counterparts globally who thrive in rich economies. Nigerian women are caught up in a web of economic suffering, denied of basic requirements and opportunity for growth. President Tinubu is urged to make heroic sacrifices, beginning with the restructuring of his economic team, and state governors bear responsibility for the nation’s ailing economy. Immediate action by government agencies at all levels is required to avert the looming disaster, which threatens to swallow the nation in pain and despair, disproportionately harming vulnerable women, children, and disillusioned youth.

In this challenging time, OHANAEZE NDIGBO prays for President Tinubu’s wisdom in steering Nigeria out of the economic morass and towards a brighter, more equitable future for all of its citizens.

**Signed by: Mazi Okechukwu Isiguzoro, Secretary-General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo**