Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has declared that empowerment remains the backbone of the National Women Mega Empowerment and Rally 2026, holding in Abuja today.
The Minister stated that “The Power of 10 Million, One Voice, One Movement, One Choice”, the Mega Empowerment rally holding at the MKO National Stadium, Abuja, will feature the presentation of the Women’s Charter to the wife of the President, Oluremi Tinubu, who is expected as Special Guest of Honour and will strengthen the agency of Nigerian women.
“The backbone of this movement is empowerment. When women are empowered, they have a stronger voice and can make clear, credible choices, and that is what you are about to see now. We women in Nigeria do not gamble. We put our mouth where our money is.” she stated
The Minister emphasised unity and political direction: “We are in dire need of a rejuvenated, refreshed women’s movement in Nigeria. This movement is simply to help us come together as one, speak with one voice, energise our movement, and choose our choices and block. That is what it is about.”
On governance and alignment, she said, “In the past, we were all over the place. We do not have a direction of votes. But this year, women, we are going for the people that we know are HeForShes, people that support the women’s cause, people that understand what we want as women, people that understand inclusivity, and people that understand fairness, equity, and justice.”
She underscored support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu: “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, GCFR. And we will not take it for granted.”
She clarified: “What we want is the right kind of governance. We want accountability. And we are going to hold our partners in progress and prosperity accountable and we are going to move with them.”
On impact, she noted: “When women have money, we will have better nutrition outcomes. We will have better social outcomes. And that is what holds the women back. This is democracy. Democracy is about interest. Where does our interest lie? It lies where we are going to be supported as women.”
The Deputy Woman Leader of the APC and Chairperson of the Planning Committee Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim, delivered a forceful call for unity: “This movement is a collective and a continuous movement. This movement is going to uplift all of us. It is our movement, our children, and the next generation.”
Projecting the historic moment and the urgency of cohesion, she emphasised: “From the 5th of May 2026, the voices of the Nigerian women are going to be one. It is going to be in unison. We cannot be separated again. Our numbers are enough to intimidate anybody. But because we are not together, because we are not united, we are not able to move and achieve what we want.”
Reaffirming resolve and warning against division, she declared, “This movement of 10 million women, one choice, is the beginning of the emancipation of the Nigerian women. Let us remain focused. Let us remain focused. Nothing should distract us. Nobody should come between us until we achieve what we want to achieve.”
Also, the wife of the Minister of State Petroleum (oil), Doubra Lokpobiri, underscored women’s capacity and representation gaps: “We have women that have the capacity; they have the brain. They have what it is to be in governance. How many senators do we have in the National Assembly? How many in the House of Representatives? How many women are there?
Highlighting the significance of the 10 million platform, she stated, “This is an opportunity, a platform that we have created for the voice of women to be heard. Cut across the world, Nigeria and the world at large.”
She expressed confidence in outcomes: “Definitely we will achieve our purpose at the end of this programme.”
The event is expected to convene over 35,000 women from across Nigeria, cutting across political affiliations, in what organisers describe as a unified front for women’s empowerment, inclusion, and collective political voice.
