By Edwin Philip
The Minister of Women Affairs, Hon. Imman Sulaiman- Ibrahim, has said under her watch in the first one hundred days in office, she has changed the future of women in the country in line with the ministry’s mandate of women empowerment, child protection, family advancement, and the inclusion of vulnerable groups in Nigeria’s national development.
In a special press briefing held at the ministry’s conference room in Abuja on Friday, she said apart from financial empowerment, her administration has launched a food intervention program for women and vulnerable groups, recognizing the economic hardships that many families are facing.
She noted that through the provisions of direct food assistance and supporting women-led agricultural initiatives, ensuring that no woman or child is left behind in their collective journey toward prosperity.
The Minister said the child protection and legal framework has been enhanced and now on the front burner under her watch, by ensuring that every child is safe, educated, and empowered to reach their full potential. She said she has overseen the establishment of a Child Rights Act Review Committee, which is tasked with harmonizing, strengthening, and modernizing Nigeria’s child protection laws, with the committee working to address gaps in the legal framework, ensuring that child marriage, trafficking, abuse, and violence are effectively tackled at all levels.
“From the onset, I was clear that this Ministry cannot afford to operate as usual. I vividly recall the day I held a four year old girl in my arms, trembling with fear after surviving the unimaginable horrors of abuse. In her eyes, I saw not just pain but a silent plea for protection, for justice, and for a future she could believe in. That moment changed me forever – it reminded me of the urgency of our mission to protect and nurture every child” she said.
According to Sulaiman- Ibrahim, the bold and ambitious vision of the ministry is to empower 10 million women economically by 2027, ensuring they play a vital role in Nigeria’s economic transformation, which is in tune with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of a $1 trillion economy, where women are key contributors to national productivity.
“We have already taken decisive steps toward achieving this, with the commencement of implementation of the World Bank supported Nigeria for Women Scale-Up Project, which targets 4.5 million women across all 36 states and the FCT. Through financial literacy, business development, and cooperative structures, we will be equipping women with the tools they need to build sustainable enterprises and contribute meaningfully to economic growth” she added.
“With over 100 million Nigerian women and girls, and millions more children and vulnerable populations looking to us for leadership, action, and results, we must drive a transformational agenda that truly empowers, protects, and uplifts those we serve. We must move from policies to action, from conversations to measurable impact, and from incremental progress to bold.”
She added that economic empowerment remains one of the most effective ways to uplift women and dismantle systemic barriers that limit their potential, which the MOWA-SARA Accelerated Skills Acquisition Programme, in collaboration with WEMA Bank, is set to train 500,000 women in key areas, including vocational skills, business entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion.
“The first phase of the program is currently underway in Kano State, with 2,500 women being trained at the Ministry of Women Affairs Centre in Dederi and the Kano Hospitality & Tourism Institute in Gyadi-Gyadi”.
Adding that to further strengthen access to finance, the Ministry is working on setting up a National Microfinance framework for Women Entrepreneurs with the aim of bridging the financing gap for women, ensuring they have affordable credit, investment opportunities, and gender-responsive financial services to grow their businesses and contribute more effectively to national development.
On child protection, the women affairs minister said the ministry under her has commenced nationwide stakeholder consultations for the development of a National Child Protection Framework, which will ensure a coordinated and structured approach to protecting children across the country, exploring opportunities for establishing a dedicated institution for Child Protection and Development.
“As part of our commitment to ending period poverty, we are also launching a nationwide campaign to provide menstrual hygiene kits to 10,000 young girls, ensuring they stay in school and maintain their dignity”.
On Ending Gender-Based Violence and Strengthening Global Partnerships, she announced that Nigeria will be making a bold and unified appearance at CSW69 in March in New York, seeking to lead the global conversation on gender equality and women’s empowerment, which for the first time, six high-impact sessions have been designed, covering women’s leadership and empowerment, financial inclusion, and child protection, as this will mark a historic moment for Nigeria, shifting from passive participation to active leadership in global gender advocacy.
She however solicited for a stronger partnerships, faster implementation, and a unified approach to gender and social development, as all hands must be on deck to ensure that policies are fully implemented, resources are mobilized, and that every woman and child in Nigeria is given the opportunity to thrive.