In a major push for women’s empowerment, Nigeria’s Federal Government has launched new nationwide interventions designed to boost women’s participation in the economy, enhance access to essential services, and strengthen leadership opportunities.
The announcement was made by the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, during the Nigerian Women’s Day celebration on the sidelines of the 70th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York. The event brought together global leaders, ministers, diplomats, gender advocates, and members of the Nigerian diaspora to discuss strategies for advancing women’s empowerment and strengthening family resilience.
The event, themed “31 Years of Progress, Resilience, Impact and Renewed Hope”, highlighted Nigeria’s commitment to actionable programs for women’s advancement.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim explained that the government is implementing a comprehensive strategy under the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions 774 (RH-SII-774) framework. The initiative targets women in all 774 local government areas, focusing on energy access, agriculture, digital inclusion, healthcare, education, child development, creativity, innovation and family resilience.
“Empowering women requires more than policies; it demands sustained investment, strong partnerships, and coordinated action.
“Women’s empowerment is not merely a social programme; it is an economic strategy, a security imperative, and a development necessity”, the minister said.
She also issued a six-point call to action urging governments, development partners, and civil society organisations to increase funding, strengthen collaboration, and accelerate programs supporting women’s advancement.
A highlight of the event was a fireside conversation between Sulaiman-Ibrahim and UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed, where they discussed Nigeria’s national gender policies, global women’s empowerment strategies, and opportunities to strengthen women’s leadership in governance, peacebuilding and economic development across Africa.
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