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By Agatha Emeadi
As part of activities marking International Women’s Day, Federal Palace Hotel in collaboration with The Guardian Nigeria have unveiled a month-long programme aimed at advancing women’s leadership, collaboration and institutional investment in gender development.
The initiative was announced during a press briefing by the Executive Director of Federal Palace Hotel and Chief Strategy Officer, (Global), of The Guardian, Anita Athena Ibru. She explained that the programme will run throughout March and will culminate in The Guardian Woman Festival scheduled for March 27.
According to Ibru, the festival will bring together women from diverse sectors including business, technology, hospitality, media, finance, public service and the creative industries. The initiative forms part of Federal Palace Hotel’s International Women’s Month programme with the theme, “Reciprocity: Give to Gain.”
Describing the collaboration as both symbolic and practical, Ibru noted that the programme differs from typical IWD celebrations, noting that it extends beyond a single-day event.
“This is not a one-day celebration dressed up as a movement,” she said. “It is a first-of-its-kind month-long programme that will run throughout March right here at Federal Palace Hotel. Women’s advancement cannot be compressed into a single date. If we are serious about impact, we must build platforms that are sustained, accessible and designed for real outcomes.”
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She explained that the theme of Year 2026 IWD “Give to Gain” reflects a structured approach to reciprocity and measurable value creation. According to her, investing in women through mentorship, networks, knowledge sharing, opportunities and leadership pathways strengthens families, organisations and the broader economy.
Ibru also highlighted the significance of the venue, describing Federal Palace Hotel as a historic landmark widely associated with Nigeria’s independence era and national heritage.
She further called on organisations, women-led networks, professional associations, non-governmental organizations and brands with corporate social responsibility (CSR) agendas to participate in the initiative.
Emphasizing the role of CSR, Ibru said meaningful institutional participation is essential to achieving real impact for women.
“CSR is not a logo on a banner or a one-time donation for publicity,” she said. “When brands invest in women’s leadership development, wellbeing, skills and enterprise opportunities, they are building human capital, strengthening the economy and developing the talent pipeline they will later rely on.”
She added that the month-long platform was designed to help organisations implement and showcase CSR initiatives in ways that are structured, visible and capable of delivering lasting social impact.
