Nigeria has called for stronger global partnerships to translate commitments on women’s empowerment into concrete actions and measurable results.
Speaking at the Global Leaders’ Meeting on Women, held in Beijing, China, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, reaffirmed Nigeria’s dedication to advancing gender equality and women’s socio-economic inclusion.
Representing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the minister expressed Nigeria’s appreciation to the Government of China and UN Women for convening the high-level event, themed “One Shared Future: New and Accelerated Process for Women’s All-Round Development.”
The gathering, which commemorates 30 years since the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, brought together global leaders, policymakers, and advocates to assess progress and drive renewed commitment to women’s rights.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim described the forum as a “critical opportunity to move from policy to practice,” emphasizing that Nigeria has already established strong frameworks to achieve gender equality.
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Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the country has implemented a range of national policies, including the National Gender Policy (2021–2026), the Women’s Economic Empowerment Policy (2023), the National Policy on Ending Child Marriage, and the Third National Action Plan on Women, Peace and Security (2025–2030).
To ensure real impact, she explained, Nigeria is operationalizing the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions (RH-SII-774) — a delivery mechanism functioning across all 774 Local Government Areas.
The programme’s nine interlinked pillars address women-centred development, child protection, and family well-being.
The minister noted that Nigeria is seeking new technical partnerships, particularly to learn from China’s model of lifting millions of women out of poverty.
She added that the country is focused on ensuring Nigerian women play leading roles — not just supportive ones — in emerging sectors such as energy transition, creative industries, digital innovation, and the green economy.
Highlighting funding challenges, Sulaiman-Ibrahim disclosed that Nigeria faces a financing gap of about $1.2 billion over the next five years to fully overcome systemic barriers limiting women’s progress.
To bridge this gap, the government is mobilizing blended finance, engaging the private sector, and leveraging impact-investment tools.
“Empowering women is not charity; it is a strategic investment in productivity, peace, and shared prosperity,” she said.
“Nigeria will ensure that no woman is unseen, no girl unheard, no child forgotten, and no family left behind.”
The Nigerian delegation included Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, Chair of the House Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development; Barr. Sweet Okundaye, Director of Legal Services, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs; Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim, APC Deputy National Woman Leader; Princess Atika Ajanah, North Central Development Commission; Moremi Ojodu, SSA on Community Engagement (South-West Zone); Modupe Oyekunle, Mastcraft Resource Centre; and Princess Jummai Idonije, Technical Assistant to the Minister.
The meeting was attended by Heads of State, parliamentary leaders, vice-premiers, ministers, and diplomatic envoys from nearly 100 countries, alongside representatives of international organizations.
