The Nigerian government says it is committed to expanding opportunities for women that will enable them to contribute meaningfully to national development.
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, said this during a working visit to Ogun State and a brief stopover at the Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), Abeokuta, the state capital.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasised that empowering women is central to Nigeria’s socio-economic progress, noting that a lot of women’s programmes had been designed under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
She said that her ministry had embedded the vision in its Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention Programmes, highlighting that policies are being put in place to promote gender equality, protect women’s rights, and open up access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.
Barriers
The minister added that the government is determined to remove barriers that limit women, children, or vulnerable persons while also creating platforms that encourage them to thrive in leadership, business, and public service.
According to Sulaiman-Ibrahim, it is important to build a Nigeria where every woman and girl remains safe, valued and empowered to thrive, noting that SARC in the state was a shining example of how vision translated into practice.
“It is not just a facility; it is a refuge of healing, dignity, and hope. Here, survivors receive medical care, psychosocial support, and the assurance that they are not alone.
“This model shows what is possible when government, partners, and communities work together.
“As we extend immediate support to survivors today, we also look to the future. Working hand in hand with the state government, civil society, and development partners,” she said.
The minister commended Governor Dapo Abiodun for “displaying an example in culture, governance, innovation and commitment to women’s advancement.”
The Ogun State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Adijat Adeleye, stated that SARC and the women’s development centre were deliberately cited side by side.
“We believe that healing must go hand in hand with rebuilding. At the SARC, survivors come in with pain, but they do not remain defined by it.
“Here, wounds are treated, tears are wiped, voices are restored, and shattered lives begin the journey to wholeness again.
“Supported and equipped through the Ogun State Economic Transformation Project (OGSTEP) with World Bank assistance, this centre boldly declares that violence will never have the final say in our state,” she said.
Dignity
Adeleye noted that at the women’s development centre, a victim could pick up her dignity, learn a trade, gain financial literacy, embrace entrepreneurship, and prepare for a new life of independence.
The renewed commitment highlights Nigeria’s drive to not only empower women but also to ensure they play their right role in shaping the nation’s future.