Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has urged Nigerian women to unite, invest in one another, and seize the political momentum toward achieving gender equality.
Speaking at a welcome dinner and breaking of fast for the Nigerian delegation and friends of Nigeria attending the 70th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) in New York, the minister said the President Bola Tinubu administration has provided unprecedented political backing for women’s empowerment and social impact programmes.
“Mr President has done everything for us to get to where we are today, and we can see a lot of political prioritisation for the work that we do,” she told guests. “It means that we are getting something right and we have done something right.”
She emphasised women’s responsibility in shaping their future: “From the leadership of our beloved President Bola Tinubu down to the very least level of leadership, we see men rooting for us, so how we navigate is entirely up to us… We speak with one voice. Our unity will define the kind of successes that we record going forward.”
On solidarity among women, Sulaiman-Ibrahim said: “In Nigeria, we must rejuvenate the women’s movement because the one that does exist will not take us far. We must see a rise of she for she’s. We must look out for each other as women. More than ever, the she for she factor is what will take us far.”
She linked women’s empowerment to Nigeria’s economy: “Women will play a key factor in the emergence of a one trillion-dollar economy… We have the patience to run a business… It’s one naira into two, two into four, and we see it every day from the villages to the cities.”
Sulaiman-Ibrahim highlighted Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions – 774: “I would like to speak a bit about Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention 774… It’s going to be the biggest investment by any government in Africa towards social impact. So I think we should all align to that particular intervention.”
She stressed collective ownership: “I’m not the only one that will implement it. It will take our collective effort… and I think we should champion it collectively.”
Also speaking, Chairman of the House Committee on Women’s Affairs, Kafilat Ogbara, highlighted legislative action to improve women’s political representation:
“We have a bill that is very popular that we are working towards in Nigeria on the special seats for women… We are trying very hard to ensure that this bill passes through, to be able to take effect by the next election.”
Nigeria’s Chargé d’Affaires to the UN, Ambassador Syndoph Endoni, said: “Under the leadership of His Excellency President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Nigeria is implementing the Renewed Hope Agenda… empowering women is essential to national development.”
Also, the Special Assistant to the President on Women’s Affairs, Fatima Farooq, emphasised youth leadership and continuity:
“I am one of the few young people Mr. President has appointed, and I have grown so much… I am committed to contributing to women in Parliament and ensuring the next generation of female leaders emerges stronger. You will see more of my efforts this year.”
Present at the dinner were leading Nigerian women leaders representing political, traditional institutions, security, development, and civil society, reflecting CSW70’s focus on multi-stakeholder alliances for justice, equality, and action for women and girls.