The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has advanced strategic investment in youth within military communities as a critical pillar for strengthening families, advancing human capital development and promoting sustainable national growth under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
The Minister made the declaration at the inauguration of the Chief of Air Staff Youth Empowerment Programme (CASYEP) held in Abuja.
Represented by the Chairperson of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development Board, Princess Jummai Idonije, she commended the Chief of the Air Staff, Air Marshal S.K. Aneke, for initiating a programme that provides vocational skills, structured mentorship and sustainable livelihood opportunities for dependants of serving, retired and deceased Nigerian Air Force personnel.
“This gathering marks a pivotal moment where military excellence seamlessly intersects with strategic social development, charting a new path of self-reliance, productivity, and sustainable growth for our young citizens.”
Describing the initiative as a strategic investment in national development, the Minister said the programme is a practical expression of the Federal Government’s declaration of 2026 as the Year of Families and Social Development.
While noting that strong families remain the foundation of sustainable peace, national security and economic prosperity, she stated that CASYEP aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by strengthening family structures within military communities through targeted investments in young people.
“When we look at CASYEP, we see a practical manifestation of this vision: a targeted effort to strengthen the family structures within the military ecosystem by equipping the youth with the tools necessary to become economically stable, socially responsible, and resilient pillars of their communities.”
Highlighting the Ministry’s policy direction, the Minister said implementation is anchored on the Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention 774 (RHSII-774), which is extending economic inclusion, child protection and social safety nets to all 774 Local Government Areas of the country.
She noted that Nigeria’s social safety net interventions have expanded from fewer than one million households in 2015 to more than 9.4 million households in 2026, with women constituting over 70 per cent of primary beneficiaries.
The Minister explained that flagship initiatives, including Women Agro-Value Expansion (WAVE), EmpowerHer774, PowerHer774, Women-on-Wheels, the Clean Cooking Initiative and the Green Economy Empowerment (#GEE774), are addressing structural barriers to economic inclusion by providing vocational training, financial inclusion, affordable health insurance and livelihood support for women, widows, vulnerable groups and military dependants.
She also applauded the Nigerian Air Force for developing its landmark Gender Policy, describing it as a significant institutional reform that reinforces the implementation of Nigeria’s National Gender Policy and the Third National Action Plan on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace and Security.
“By institutionalising gender-responsive structures, the NAF is ensuring that women are not merely passive victims of conflict or secondary beneficiaries of welfare, but active, equal, and strategic partners in security operations, decision-making, and peacebuilding across Nigeria.”
The Minister while lauding Air Marshal Aneke for his visionary leadership in advancing human capital development within the military community, reaffirmed the commitment of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to sustained collaboration with the Nigerian Air Force to institutionalise programmes that promote youth empowerment, gender inclusion and resilient families .
