Echoes of Women in Africa hold one day dialogue on Women's Unpaid Care Work

Cross-section of participants at the one day dialogue on Women's unpaid care work 

Benin City: As part of effort in commemorating the Invisible Work Day (IWD) 2025, Echoes of Women in Africa (ECOWA), in partnership with the Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, and the Edo State Women Economic Justice Empowerment Network, has organised a One Day Dialogue on Women's Unpaid Care Work in Arougba Community, Oredo Local Government Area of Edo State; making ECOWA the first organisation in Nigeria to organise such a dialogue. 

She said unpaid care work is work because it's essential for the functioning of the families and societies.

Presenting a paper on "Challenges of Invisible Work", the Founder of ECOWA- Dr. Mrs. Louisa Eikhomun-Agbonkhese described women unpaid care work as those work often performed by women without any financial compensation. She said the event was meant to recognise and celebrate women and family caregivers who spend hours of their time taking care of aging, physically challenged, virtual and mentally impaired family members, taking sick children and elderly to hospital, fetches water, etc.

Dr. Mrs. Louisa Eikhomun-Agbonkhese, Founder ECOWA 

According to the Women, Economic and Justice Activist, "invisible work is defined as work performed for little or no pay, including work performed within the family, by family caregivers, for the family business or volunteer work. Invisible work is work that was typically done by women in the home while men worked a job, but today, invisible work is still typically done by women even when women have their own jobs and careers to take care of. Invisible work is taken for granted and unrecognised in the family and in society at large. 

"Invisible work which encompasses task like childcare; eldercare; physically challenged care; sweeping inside and around the home; packing of refuse; washing of clothes, floors, dishes; bathing of children; school run; cooking; fetching of water and firewood; filling of gas; going to market; caring for the sick, are crucial for society but often undervalued compensated, disproportionately impacting women and hindering their economic empowerment".

On her part, the Edo Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development- Hon. Chief Bisi Idaomi said the gathering was to recognise the indispensable yet often overlooked contributions of unpaid care work - childcare, eldercare, house work, emotional labour, and community service that form the cornerstone of society well-being.

The Commissioner who was represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry- Mrs. Joy Ihensekhien said the day was meant to reflect on the silent sacrifices of millions of women whose labour sustains families, nurtures communities, and propels economies, yet remains undervalued and uncompensated.

Permanent Secretary Edo Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development- Mrs. Joy Ihensekhien

According to her, "the disproportionate burden of this work on women, stifles their health, limits economic opportunities, and perpetuates cycles of inequality. It is our collective duty to transform this narrative. 

"I commend Echoes of Women in Africa for their visionary leadership in organising this critical dialogue. Your tireless advocacy for women's rights, peace and security across Africa continues to inspire transformative change. 

"By amplifying the voices of women and fostering stakeholders collaboration, you are paving the way for policies that acknowledge, reduce, and redistribute unpaid care work- a vital step towards gender justice.

"The Edo State government remains resolute in its commitment to advancing women's empowerment. Through initiatives promoting accessible childcare, social protection programs, and awareness campaigns, we strive to alleviate the gendered burden of care work and ensure women's full participation in socioeconomic development".

Commending ECOWA for being the first nongovernmental organisation to bring women's unpaid care work to public domain, a foremost women economic justice activist- Rev. Dr. Mrs. Nosa Aladesolu called on women to see themselves  as home managers, not as full time house wives. She said the unpaid care work of women "has no receipt and does not carry salary, but is pivotal in Societal development".

The Ohen of Arougba- High Priest Jeffery Omosowman who was represented by Pa Sunday Osayande called on men to support their wives, saying the work women does at home is all embracing. He said the money men gives to their wives is not commensurate to the work they does.

A woman rights activist/ Journalist- Dr. Isaac Eranga said the work done by women at home if quantified monetarily, cannot be paid by the men. He called on men to appreciate and support their wives.

There was health talk by the Community First Based Responder (CFBR), and a short drama presentation to depict the burden of unpaid work care of women, even when they are not being recognised and appreciated.

A glimpse of the drama presentation