Nigeria’s Ministry of Women Affairs is to set up a National Microfinance framework for Women Entrepreneurs across the country.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, disclosed this in Abuja, at a press conference in commemoration of her one hundred days in office as the Minister of Women Affairs.
She noted that the day provides an opportunity to reflect on the journey so far, share key milestones achieved, and reaffirm commitment to women’s empowerment and child protection.
“Economic empowerment remains one of the most effective ways to uplift women and dismantle systemic barriers that limit their potential. The Microfinance Framework initiative aims to bridge the financing gap for women, ensuring they have affordable credit, investment opportunities, and gender-responsive financial services to grow their businesses and contribute more effectively to national development. In addition to financial empowerment, we have launched a food intervention program for women and vulnerable groups, recognizing the economic hardships that many families are facing. By providing direct food assistance and supporting women-led agricultural initiatives, we are ensuring that no woman or child is left behind in our collective journey toward prosperity”.
The Minister, while highlighting the key priority initiatives undertaken by the ministry, explained that the Ministry operates on frameworks that are guided by a Strategic Plan of Action, developed to drive impactful interventions, which provide a clear direction towards accelerating meaningful results.
“The work of the Ministry of Women Affairs is guided by Nigeria’s international commitments and national policies, which serve as the foundation for our interventions. We continue to lead the implementation of the National Gender Policy (2021), the National Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Policy, the Child Rights Act (2003), the National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security, and other critical frameworks. At the international level, our mandate aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security, and the AU Maputo Protocol, among others”.
According to the Minister, the Ministry has been making bold efforts to empower 10 million women economically by 2027, ensuring that they play a vital role in Nigeria’s economic transformation.
“This aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of a $1 trillion economy, where women are key contributors to national productivity. With over 100 million Nigerian women and girls, and millions more children and vulnerable populations looking to us for leadership, action, and results, we must drive a transformational agenda that truly empowers, protects, and uplifts those we serve. We must move from policies to action, from conversations to measurable impact, and from incremental progress to bold, systemic reforms. Recognizing this, the MOWA-SARA Accelerated Skills Acquisition Programme, in collaboration with WEMA Bank, is set to train 500,000 women in key areas, including vocational skills, business entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion.
She further explained that: “The first phase of the program is currently underway in Kano State, with 2,500 women being trained at the Ministry of Women Affairs Centre in Dederi and the Kano Hospitality & Tourism Institute in Gyadi-Gyadi. With the commencement of implementation of the World Bank supported Nigeria for Women Scale-Up Project, which targets 4.5 million women across all 36 states and the FCT. Through financial literacy, business development, and cooperative structures, we will be equipping women with the tools they need to build sustainable enterprises and contribute meaningfully to economic growth.”
The Women Affairs Minister further reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to ending violence against women and children and strengthening global partnerships on child protection and legal frameworks with the commencement of nationwide stakeholder consultations for the development of a national Child Protection Framework.
Comments are closed.