86% Without Health Insurance, 56% Without Land: Imo Women Present Charter of Demands, Seek 35% Representation by 2028

By Blessing Iriaka

A new women's needs assessment in Imo State has exposed significant gaps in healthcare coverage, access to land and political representation, prompting calls for targeted government action on women's economic empowerment, safety and inclusion.

With 86 per cent of women surveyed reportedly lacking health insurance and 56 per cent reporting no access to land, women in Imo State have presented a research-backed charter of demands calling for improved access to economic opportunities, healthcare, education and political leadership.

The demands are contained in the 2026 Imo State Women's Needs Assessment Report, presented at the launch of the Imo State Strategic Policy Blueprint for the Advancement of Citizens' Needs and Imo State Citizens Charter of Demands, held at Rockview Hotel, Owerri, on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.

The initiative was convened by the Dorothy Njemanze Foundation, with support from the Heinrich Böll Foundation.

Among its key proposals, the charter calls for women to account for at least 35 per cent of political representation and participation in public decision-making by 2028. It also proposes measures to improve women's access to land, finance, markets and productive resources, alongside stronger social protection and safer public spaces.

The report provides a framework for addressing challenges experienced by women across the state, particularly those in rural communities and other vulnerable groups. Its recommendations also raise questions about how government policies, public spending and political institutions can better respond to women's needs.

The study covered six local government areas representing the three senatorial zones of Imo State. Two local government areas were selected from each zone, with urban and rural settlement patterns considered in the selection. A total of 30 communities were covered, with five communities selected from each local government area.

The selected communities were:

Ohaji/Egbema: Mmahu, Assa, Awara, Umuokanne and Obudi-Agwa.

Nkwerre: Umunyem, Umunachi, Obinocha, Obinihu and Umueze.

Owerri Municipal: Umuororonjo, Amawom, Umuodu, Umuonyeche and Umuoyima.

Mbaitoli: Ogbaku, Ubomiri, Orodo, Ifakala and Ogwa.

Ihitte/Uboma: Amakohia, Ikperejere, Amainyi, Umuihi and Abueke.

Obowo: Amuzi, Okwuohia, Umulogho, Odenkume and Avutu.

The Imo State Women's Charter of Demands identifies seven thematic areas requiring attention:

1. Economic empowerment and financing.

2. Education, skills development and digital inclusion.

3. Healthcare and social protection.

4. Inclusion of women with disabilities.

5. Political representation and leadership.

6. Security and safety for women.

7. Access to information, transparency and accountability.

Together, these themes address not only women's access to basic services and economic opportunities but also their ability to influence decisions, participate in governance and hold public institutions accountable.

According to the report, 56 per cent of respondents reported having no access to land, a barrier with implications for agricultural productivity, economic independence and access to other productive resources. For women who depend on farming or related activities for their livelihoods, limited access to land can restrict their ability to expand production, obtain financing and build sustainable businesses. The charter calls on the Imo State Government to remove key structural barriers to women's economic empowerment by 2028, with the target of ensuring that at least 35 per cent of women, particularly rural and vulnerable women, have improved access to land, agricultural inputs, finance, markets, technology and other productive resources.

It also calls for a supportive business environment that would enable at least 35 per cent of women-owned enterprises to formalize their operations by 2028.

These proposed targets place economic inclusion at the center of the state's development agenda. Their implementation would require more than financial assistance alone; it would also involve addressing barriers to productive assets, business support and market access.

The assessment identifies vocational skills and digital technology, including science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM), among the learning needs respondents prioritized. The finding highlights the importance of equipping women and girls with practical skills that can improve their employment prospects, entrepreneurial capacity and participation in the digital economy. The charter proposes that, by 2030, the Imo State Government should reduce educational exclusion among girls, particularly those from low-income households and underserved communities. Recommended measures include financial assistance and school-retention programs targeting girls at risk of discontinuing their education. The proposal recognizes that access to education is not simply about enrolment. Financial constraints and other barriers can prevent girls from remaining in school and completing their education. Expanding access to vocational training, digital skills and STEM education could also help women pursue opportunities beyond traditional economic activities.

According to the report, only 14 per cent of respondents had health insurance, while 86 per cent were uninsured. The figures suggest a substantial gap in financial protection against healthcare costs among the women surveyed. Without health insurance, women may face difficulties paying for consultations, medication, maternal healthcare and other essential services when illness occurs. The financial consequences can also affect household income and economic stability. The charter therefore places healthcare and social protection among its seven priority areas, calling for measures that improve women's access to essential services and reduce their vulnerability. For the state government, the reported figures provide a basis for examining the accessibility, affordability and reach of health insurance and other social protection programs, particularly for women in rural and underserved communities.

For inclusion to be meaningful, programs addressing education, employment, healthcare, political participation and public safety must be accessible to women with disabilities. This requires attention to physical accessibility, communication, access to information and the removal of institutional barriers that may prevent their participation. The inclusion of this theme signals the need for policies that recognize the different circumstances women face rather than treating all women as a single, uniform group.

Women's political representation and leadership constitute one of the most prominent demands in the charter. The report calls for increased representation of women and meaningful participation in political leadership and public decision-making, setting a target of at least 35 per cent representation by 2028. The charter also calls for the institutionalization of gender-responsive and participatory budgeting in Imo State by 2028. Under the proposed framework, formal mechanisms would be established to ensure that women constitute at least 35 per cent of participants in public budget and fiscal-planning consultations. This demand connects political representation to public accountability. Women's participation in budgeting, for example, can provide opportunities to raise questions about the distribution of resources for healthcare, education, water, security and other essential services.

However, representation must go beyond numerical targets. Women must also have meaningful opportunities to influence decisions, shape policy priorities and contribute to the implementation and monitoring of public programs. With future elections approaching, the demands raise important questions for political parties and other stakeholders about women's access to leadership positions and opportunities to participate in electoral processes.

The charter calls for women's safety and security indicators to be integrated into Imo State's security, development and public infrastructure planning by 2028. The proposed measures are intended to establish measurable targets for reducing violence against women and improving access to safe public spaces, transportation, justice and protection services. Women's safety affects their ability to attend school, work, trade, access healthcare, participate in community activities and engage in public life. Addressing these concerns requires coordinated action by relevant government institutions, security agencies, justice-sector actors, community leaders and organizations working on women's rights. The charter's emphasis on measurable targets also highlights the importance of monitoring whether interventions are improving women's safety in practice.

The seventh thematic area focuses on women's access to information, transparency and accountability. For women to participate effectively in governance, they need access to relevant information about government programs, public budgets, available services and policies that affect their lives. Access to information can also help women identify opportunities, understand their rights, engage public officials and demand explanations when commitments are not fulfilled. The proposed emphasis on gender-responsive and participatory budgeting reinforces this principle, women should have opportunities to contribute to decisions about public resources, while government institutions should be accountable for the commitments they make. The effectiveness of the charter will therefore depend not only on the adoption of its recommendations but also on public access to information about implementation and progress.

The launch at Rockview Hotel, Owerri, brought together stakeholders from traditional institutions, religious organizations, civil society and government. Those present included the Eze of Umuokanne, the Chief Imam of Imo State: Barrister Suleiman Ajoku, Eze Marcel, members of Civil Society Organizations, Christian Association of Nigeria, representatives of the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC), alongside other stakeholders.

The participation of stakeholders from different sectors offered an opportunity to bring women's concerns before institutions and groups that can influence policy, political participation and community-level action.

The Imo State Women's Charter of Demands presents a framework for addressing issues affecting women across the state, from access to land and healthcare to education, safety and political leadership. Its proposed targets also offer milestones against which progress can be assessed, particularly the 2028 commitments on economic empowerment, women's political representation, participatory budgeting and security planning, as well as the 2030 target for reducing educational exclusion among girls.

Achieving these targets will require sustained engagement between government institutions, civil society organizations, political parties, traditional and religious leaders, women's groups and communities. It will also require clear implementation plans, adequate funding, transparent reporting and mechanisms through which women can monitor progress and demand accountability. For rural women in particular, the next steps must extend beyond policy discussions in conference halls. Community-level engagements can help women understand the charter, identify their priorities and participate in decisions affecting their families and communities.

The findings on land access and health insurance point to practical challenges that require targeted responses. Meanwhile, the demands for political representation and participation in budgeting underline the need to give women a stronger voice in governance. 

The demands have been presented. The targets have been outlined. The next question is whether the institutions responsible for delivering change will turn these recommendations into measurable action.