‎Women’s right to health cannot be realised through healthcare alone but also depends on expanding access to education, skills development, economic opportunities and decent work, Genius Hub has said ahead of the 2026 International Day of Women and Girls of African Descent.
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‎It said improving health outcomes requires investment beyond healthcare, identifying education, economic empowerment, food security, social protection, safe environments and access to decent work as critical to women’s well-being.
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‎The organisation said this year’s theme, “Right to Health: A Fundamental Right Still Denied,” highlights the barriers many women and girls of African descent continue to face in accessing quality healthcare, including inadequate healthcare infrastructure, financial constraints, discrimination, poor maternal healthcare outcomes, limited access to reproductive healthcare and persistent mental health challenges.
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‎The organisation said it is implementing the Federal Ministry of Education’s Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Initiative, which provides competency-based training and entrepreneurship support to improve employability and self-reliance across sectors of the economy.
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‎The initiative provides training in technology, vocational trades, business development and the creative economy, alongside employability and entrepreneurship support to prepare participants for employment and business ownership.
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‎It also highlighted Betaawork, its digital platform that connects verified professionals, artisans, entrepreneurs and service providers with individuals and businesses seeking trusted services to improve access to income opportunities.
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‎Through its nonprofit arm, Genius Hub Global Initiative, the organisation said it continues to implement programmes focused on youth empowerment, women’s economic inclusion, entrepreneurship development, employability, psychosocial support, reintegration, education and sustainable livelihoods in partnership with government institutions, development agencies, international organisations, the private sector and local communities.
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‎Speaking on the observance, the Group Managing Director and Founder of Genius Hub, Isimeme Whyte, said: “This year’s theme reminds us that the right to health extends far beyond access to hospitals and medical treatment,”
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‎She said health is deeply connected to education, economic opportunity, dignity, financial independence and social inclusion. When women and girls are empowered with relevant skills and meaningful opportunities, they are better positioned to lead healthier, more productive and fulfilling lives.
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‎”Our commitment is to build an Africa where every woman and girl of African descent has access not only to quality healthcare but also to education, decent work, entrepreneurship and the opportunities needed to realize her full potential. Empowering women is not simply the right thing to do, it is one of the smartest investments we can make for Africa’s future,” she said.