Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has called on women nationwide to unite under the “10 Million Women, One Voice, One Movement, One Choice” initiative, aimed at strengthening unity, empowerment, and inclusion in national development.
Speaking during a Unity Match held in Abuja, the Minister described the movement as a timely intervention to reposition women as key drivers of social and economic progress.
“When women are empowered, they have a stronger voice. It makes the agency stronger, and women can make clear, credible choices. Women in Nigeria, we do not gamble. We put our money where our mouth is,” she said.
She stated, “We are in dire need of a rejuvenated, refreshed women’s movement in Nigeria, and what better time could it be than now, when we have a HeForShe president who has invested in women, who believes in women, and who has prioritised the well-being and welfare of women and children.”
The minister commended Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what she described as inclusive and people-focused governance.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has given governance a human face.
“We daughters of Nigeria, we recognise it. We sisters recognise it. And we’re going to rise to the occasion. Women in Nigeria, we do not gamble. We put our money where our mouth is. We have seen that light at the end of the tunnel. We have seen someone who champions the causes of women in the person of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, and we will not take it for granted.”
She noted that the President has prioritised social issues and other sectors of the economy.
”In the past, governance was about building bridges and airports and all sorts. Mr President has been able to find the balance. We model; we recognise it. I call on every woman that means well for the women’s agency, that means well for our children, and that means well for the family unit in Nigeria to support a man who has given governance a human face.”
Also speaking, the APC Deputy Woman Leader, Zainab Ibrahim, urged women to remain focused and united.
“Nigerian women, let’s rise. Nothing should distract us,” she declared. “Whether you are giving something or you are not giving anything, you should be the one to bring something for yourselves.”
She warned against disunity, saying, ‘That is what we call ‘double jeopardy’, when you are bullied by someone and then you come to bully yourself. Enough of the bullying.”
Commending the minister’s leadership, she stated: “Now we are having a coordinated front where we will have one voice, one movement, and one choice. This movement is a collective and a continuous movement. History will remember those who positively contributed to this movement.”
She described May 5, 2026, as a significant date when women are expected to converge at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium.
“Nigerian women will converge” with “35,000 beautiful Nigerian women” and “one choice—to return President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to continue to take care of the Nigerian family”.
Mrs Doubra Lokpobiri also called for unity and sustained collaboration among women.
“Just keep being united and love yourself, no matter what. We have a focus; we know what we are moving for women’s inclusion – women’s inclusion in governance, in politics, in decision-making, in the economy of Nigeria.”
In her remarks, the convener, Chinny Okoye, described the initiative as unprecedented in scope.
“Ten million voices of women coming together; it has never happened before.Our president, our father, has declared 2026 to be the year of family and social development. This means that women are at the top of our national agenda. So you have to put women at the top of your national agenda,” she said.
Youth advocate Aisha Adamu Abdullahi called for broader participation among young Nigerians in support of the movement.
The 10 Million Women Mega Empowerment and Rally 2026 is scheduled to hold on May 5 at the Moshood Abiola National Stadium, with the First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, expected as Special Guest of Honour.
The emergence of the “10 Million Women” initiative underscores a growing recognition of the pivotal role women play in shaping Nigeria’s socio-economic and political landscape.
As momentum builds ahead of the planned convergence in Abuja, the movement signals not only a call for unity but also a broader push for inclusion, representation, and sustained engagement in governance.
Observers, however, stress the need to translate the mobilisation into long-term structural impact through cohesion and inclusive empowerment across diverse groups and demographics of Nigerian women.
