Minister Advocates for Women's Economic Empowerment in Nigeria

At a workshop organized by the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim addressed the need for gender-responsive leadership to achieve sustainable growth in Nigeria. She stated that nearly half of Nigeria's productive capacity remains constrained due to gender gaps.

The workshop included Permanent Secretaries, the Accountant-General of the Federation, and the Auditor-General for the Federation, emphasizing their roles in the implementation of gender-responsive strategies. Sulaiman-Ibrahim described the Women's Economic Empowerment Policy, launched in 2023, as a comprehensive framework focusing on agriculture, entrepreneurship, labor market, emerging industries, and education.

The policy has been implemented in Kaduna, Kano, and Lagos States, with support from the Presidential High-Level Advisory Council on Support for Women and Girls. She highlighted the economic cost of gender gaps, estimating a loss of about N3.5 trillion annually in agriculture alone, and noted that women receive less than 15% of formal financing despite making up over 40% of micro, small, and medium enterprises.