When Muhammadu Buhari took the presidential oath of office in May 2015, he stepped into a Nigeria grappling with deepening security issues, an ailing economy, and a nation eager for transformation. But amid the political noise, a quieter question persisted among gender advocates: Would this administration finally champion women’s leadership in meaningful ways?
Now, following his passing, the legacy of Buhari’s leadership on women’s inclusion invites closer scrutiny — not through campaign promises or party manifestos, but through the actual lives and roles of women under his tenure.
Women in High Office: Symbolism or Substance?
Buhari’s first cabinet in 2015 included only 6 women out of 36 ministers—a disappointing start by many standards.
While the national gender policy set a 35% benchmark for female representation, his government never reached that threshold. This shortfall drew criticism from civil society and international observers.
Yet, what the Buhari administration lacked in numbers, it made up for—at least partially—in the strategic significance of some appointments.
One of the most notable was Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, who served as Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning.
In a role that had historically had little female presence, Ahmed managed the country’s economy during its most vulnerable moments, including recessions, oil shocks, and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Her ability to steady Nigeria’s financial ship earned her international respect and local recognition.
In the judiciary, Buhari appointed Justice Amina Augie and Justice Uwani Abba-Aji to the Supreme Court, reinforcing the presence of women in the nation’s highest court. He also approved Amina Bala Zakari’s tenure at INEC, a significant nod to female leadership in electoral oversight, albeit a controversial one.
Pauline Tallen and the Gender Advocacy Push
As Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen became a vocal and passionate force for women’s rights. Under her leadership, the Ministry pushed forward the Gender Equality Bill, advocated for stronger laws against gender-based violence, and supported the domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act across multiple states.
Tallen’s ministry was instrumental in launching the National Strategy to End Child Marriage, a bold step in a country where early marriage continues to undermine girls’ futures.
Her advocacy amplified voices that are often drowned in bureaucracy and tradition.
The Unwritten Legacy: Changing Perception
While Buhari may not have ushered in a revolution for women’s rights, his administration altered public perception.
Women were no longer only expected to occupy “soft” portfolios like Women Affairs or Education. They became finance ministers, Supreme Court justices, and heads of service.
Still, the questions remain: Was this progress driven by a strategic vision for gender inclusion? Or were these gains coincidental, riding on the backs of exceptionally qualified individuals?
For many, Buhari’s legacy on women in leadership is best described as transitional—not groundbreaking, but not regressive either.
It paved the way for conversations, questioned long-held norms, and provided platforms that today’s female leaders are continuing to build upon.
In a country where the path to political inclusion is long and winding, that might just be enough of a foundation to demand more from the next chapter.
Buhari’s Silent Revolution: Expanding Access for Women at the Grassroots
While President Muhammadu Buhari’s legacy in elite governance circles is often measured by who made it into his cabinet, there is another, quieter story—one told in the voices of market women, rural traders, and unemployed young women who, for the first time, accessed direct government support.
This is the story of grassroots impact—of how the late president, often seen as a traditionalist, presided over one of the most expansive social investment initiatives in Nigeria’s history, with women as primary beneficiaries.
Empowering the Informal Economy: GEEP and MarketMoni
During Buhari’s first term, the Federal Government launched the Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP).
Under this program were MarketMoni, TraderMoni, and FarmerMoni — micro-credit schemes aimed at Nigeria’s vast informal economy.
The target? Women who sell vegetables by the roadside, mothers who wake up at 4 a.m. to get to market, and widows running small stalls in village centres.
With interest-free loans ranging from ₦10,000 to ₦100,000, many women accessed capital for the first time in their lives, without collateral.
In places like Zamfara, Cross River, and Kogi, the program recorded high female participation. Though critics questioned the long-term sustainability, few denied the immediate impact: economic agency.
Women could restock goods, send children to school, and reinvest on their own terms.
N-Power and Youthful Female Inclusion
The N-Power program, designed to reduce youth unemployment, also found strong resonance among young women. Thousands were placed in schools, health clinics, and agricultural hubs.
For many female participants, it was not just a job; it was a gateway to skill acquisition, confidence, and self-worth.
The program’s exit strategy—offering training in digital skills, entrepreneurship, and vocational tradeswas especially beneficial for women in semi-urban areas.
Feeding Children, Employing Mothers: The Home Grown School Feeding Programme
Another often overlooked initiative was the National Home Grown School Feeding Programme, which not only aimed to tackle child hunger but also employed over 100,000 women as cooks and vendors across primary schools.
It became one of the most gender-impactful programs of the Buhari years.
In states like Osun, Kano, and Ekiti, women took charge of nutrition supply chains, from cooking to sourcing local produce. This reinforced community economics and empowered women entrepreneurs at the grassroots.
President Buhari may not have been known for fiery speeches on gender equality, but through policy execution, he created entry points for thousands of Nigerian women, particularly those in places often forgotten by the central government.
Critics are right to highlight the shortcomings: low female political representation, limited enforcement of gender equity laws, and slow progress on constitutional reforms. But in markets, classrooms, and homes, Buhari’s policies gave many women their first sense of inclusion, however modest.
His legacy is not one of fanfare or radical feminism. It is a quiet, pragmatic imprint, one that history may come to see as laying the foundation for a more inclusive Nigeria.
Image Credit: Ibe Kachikwu
