A non-governmental organisation, Helpline Social Support Initiative, has emphasised that empowering women and girls remains essential for building resilient and prosperous societies.
The organisation’s founder, Dr Jumai Ahmadu, made this statement during an event at the 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70), held in partnership with the Defence and Police Officers’ Wives Association (DEPOWA) under the Africa Women Conference platform at the United Nations Headquarters in New York.
Ahmadu stated, “At Helpline, our work has always been anchored on a simple conviction: when women and girls are empowered, societies become more just, resilient, and prosperous.
“The task before us is clear. We must expand women’s financial inclusion, strengthen mentorship networks, increase girls’ access to STEM education, and create leadership pathways that ensure no woman or girl is left behind.”
Representing Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Jummai Idonijie reaffirmed the government’s commitment to women’s empowerment.
“The Minister has redefined what economic empowerment truly reflects. For her, economic empowerment is the pathway for resolving every societal crisis. Because when a woman is empowered, the family is empowered, the society is empowered, and it solves a lot of problems in the society.”
She also highlighted the introduction of a digital platform designed to support women’s access to services and mentorship.
“We call it the Women Happy Women app, and it is an app that connects over 20 million women into the digital space in terms of mentoring, in terms of services and goods.”
President of DEPOWA, Mernan Femi-Oluyede, said the association continues to support military and paramilitary families through empowerment programmes.
“Empowering women economically is fundamental to building resilient families, peaceful communities, and sustainable national development.”
Speaking during the panel, Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the United Nations Development Programme Regional Bureau for Africa, Ahunna Eziakonwa, stressed the link between financial inclusion and justice.
“A woman’s access to income, assets, credit, and economic opportunity is deeply connected to her safety, her agency, and her ability to claim her rights.”
Also speaking, Umma Sani, Managing Director of Ummi International Limited and Adashe Women Empowerment Initiative, highlighted programmes supporting displaced women in Nigeria.
“What Adashe stands for is for our vulnerable women in Nigeria. That is what we stand for, and that is what we’re doing.”
Financial expert and CEO of Alpha Oasis International, Bose Odueke, emphasised the need for a mindset shift among women in financial management.
“We need to see ourselves as wealth creators, not just earners, not just survivors, but people who can take control of our financial future.”
Transformational Coach Ambassador Jacqueline Mohair highlighted the importance of mentorship and global collaboration.
“We must uplift one another, but not only uplift, reach back and help uplift that young girl or that young lady to become all that they can be.”
In her closing remarks, Nigeria’s Head of the Third Committee at the UN, Ambassador Bola Asaju, said, “So our take-home today, I want us to go with this consciousness that when you empower a woman, you empower a nation.”
Stakeholders at the NGO CSW70 Forum side event on “Building the Next Generation of Female Leaders: Empowering Girls in STEM and Public Decision-Making, and Economic Empowerment as a Pathway to Justice,” called for stronger investments in women’s economic empowerment, financial inclusion and leadership development as pathways to justice and sustainable development.