Achi Advocates for Women's Inclusion at Gender Summit

At the 2026 Gender and Inclusion Summit organized by the Policy Innovation Centre in Abuja, Patrick Achi, the former Prime Minister and President of the National Assembly of Côte d’Ivoire, cautioned Nigeria and other African nations against developing economies overly dependent on grants and cash transfers. He argued that sustainable prosperity must be driven by productive employment and rising incomes.

Achi acknowledged the role of social protection and cash transfers during economic downturns but warned against creating a "poverty-alleviation industry" that fails to foster productive income. He stressed that lasting solutions to poverty require creating economic opportunities and that governments must ensure the benefits of growth are widely shared.

Achi also highlighted the importance of including women and young people in education, employment, and leadership roles to enhance Africa's productive capacity. Additionally, Prof. Olufolake AbdulRazaq, First Lady of Kwara State, called for increased representation of women in decision-making positions, noting that gender inequality is a significant barrier to sustainable development.