Women must lead Nigeria’s push for a $1trn economy, says Women Affairs Minister

By Joy Baba-Yesufu

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Iman Suleiman-Ibrahim, has declared that Nigerian women must take center stage in driving the nation’s economic growth, emphasizing their vital role in achieving President Bola Tinubu’s vision of a $1 trillion economy.
Speaking during an official visit to the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD) in Abuja, the Minister affirmed that the Federal Government is actively rolling out targeted policies to enhance female participation across key economic sectors and public institutions.
Describing the current political and social climate as “women o’clock,” Suleiman-Ibrahim pointed to the increasing number of women assuming top executive positions as clear proof of their capacity to lead.
She highlighted the historic election of the first female President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), along with other high-profile appointments in the legal sector, as major milestones for gender inclusion.
“There is nothing a Nigerian woman cannot achieve.
“We are witnessing women taking up leadership positions across critical sectors, and this aligns with President Tinubu’s vision of inclusive governance,”
Suleiman-Ibrahim said.
Addressing the nation’s economic targets under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Minister stressed that women must move from passive observers to active drivers of national prosperity.
The Minister noted that the Ministry is identifying key industries with low female representation to create tailored empowerment programs.
“Strategies are being designed to ensure a substantial share of national wealth returns directly to women and their families.
“Interventions will cover both vulnerable women in rural communities and female public servants executing government initiatives.
“We will not be spectators in the journey towards a one-trillion-dollar economy. Nigerian women must co-create that prosperity,” the Minister added.
Earlier during the visit, the Director-General of the MBNCWD, Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, outlined ongoing organizational reforms aimed at turning the facility into a major execution hub for government policy.
According to her, the centre is currently restructuring around three core strategic pillars – economic empowerment, inclusion and accessibility.
Benjamins-Laniyi also unveiled the RENOVATE Initiative – a framework designed to modernize the centre and extend its outreach across all 774 local government areas in Nigeria.
She called for sustained policy backing and collaborative funding mechanisms to ensure long-term gender-responsive economic growth across the country.