The wife of Nigeria’s President, Senator Oluremi Tinubu says the government will continue to empower women for leadership opportunities across Nigeria’s Federal Civil Service.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu stated this in Abuja, Nigeria at the launch of INSPIRE project, as part of activities marking the 2026 International Civil Service Week.
According to her, the initiative speaks to the kind of the civil service that must be built to supports the workforce, reward competence, promotes fairness, encourages innovation, creates opportunities for professional growth, and truly reflects equity and excellence.
She said across the public Service, women continue to make significant contributions.
“We must also recognize the need for more inclusion, and influence outcomes. Therefore, inspire is timely and crucial, because it is here to us to provide stronger workplace participation and efficiency,” the President wife said.
She further noted that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the present administration is premised on inclusion, productivity, economic growth and national transformation, where women are empowered.
According to her, ” It is not just important for women alone. They are vital for national growth. Instead, it is vital for the women of all to know that this initiative is designed to reach women across different levels of the civil society.
Senator Oluremi Tinubu noted that leadership development should not begin only when a woman becomes the permanent secretary, it must begin early.
She said, ” A young officer who is properly mentored today may become the permanent secretary, head of service, minister, or a national leader tomorrow”.
She enjoined the women of the Nigerian civil service to contribute to strive for excellence, invest in their growth, embrace innovation and digital skills, support one another, and remain committed to service with integrity and dignity.
The President wife stated that the success of INSPIRE will not be measured only by today’s launch, but by the impact it creates in the years ahead emphasising that Nigeria needs institutions that can think, adapt, innovate, and compete globally.
She commended the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack and her entire team for the vision behind INSPIRE.
For her part, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack said the Service remains committed to advancing opportunities for women across Nigeria’s civil service, equipping and inspiring them to lead with competence, courage, and passion in positions of power and decision-making.
“Including representation, mentorship, partnership, networking, and institutional culture, Empower seeks to address the structural barriers that have historically constrained the advancement of women in the public sector,” she said.
Mrs Didi explained that the programme provides a structured framework for leadership development, peer mentoring, career visibility, institutional advocacy, and policy reform, with clear metrics for success.
It will support women at all career levels — from junior officers to senior executives — within a living network that sustains momentum far beyond conferences and workshops.
“It will also amplify women’s voices in reform processes, ensure that their ideas shape institutional outcomes, and position them as full and equal partners in Nigeria’s public sector transformation”.
“Today, we make a clear statement: Reform must carry everyone along. Innovation must benefit from women’s ideas. Leadership must recognize women’s capacity. Results must reflect the full strength of our workforce,” she said.
The theme of this conference, “Women’s Resilience and Growth,” speaks directly to the spirit and purpose of this summit.
The Head of Service noted with emphasis that reform cannot be truly transformational without women’s participation and leadership saying resilience cannot endure without inclusion.
“Sustainable progress requires the full breadth of institutional talent and the contributions of every member of our workforce. No institution can achieve its highest potential when the energy, ideas, and leadership of half of its workforce remain underutilized”.
She added that empowerment must not be a one-time initiative, but must take root as a sustainable and evolving institution that provides mentorship, creates opportunities, encourages solidarity among women across career levels, and challenges our institutions to dismantle every structural barrier to merit and excellence.
