Nigeria’s Women Affairs Minister, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim has been honoured in New York with a changemakers award for advancing Women’s Leadership.
The event themed Reignite Global Gender Equity Agenda at Beyond Beijing 30 Summit & Nova Award: AI, Policy, and Male Allies, held on the margins of the just concluded 69th UN Commission on the Status of Women.
The Minister dedicated the award to women and girls across Nigeria for their resilience and strength, saying it represents both a celebration and a challenge.
She said; “This recognition strengthens our resolve to address these challenges head-on. While we acknowledge the progress made, we must also confront the stark realities: the heightened vulnerability of women and children during disasters, the struggles faced in urban slums.”
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said that it was a moment of celebration, and rededication to the work ahead, for Nigeria’s women and for a more just society.
The NOVA Awards, organised by Sanicle.Cloud and IBTK Foundation, honoured leaders making impacts and committed to sustaining transformative change beyond 2025.
Other award recipients included; Dr. Padmini Murthy, Global Health Director at New York Medical College School of Health Sciences; Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, Acting Director of Reforms Coordination and Service Improvement at the FCTA and Founder of Helpline Foundation for the Needy, Abuja; Mariama Sahid, Advocacy Officer for the Young Women in Democracy Forum; Folusho Dasylva, CEO of Royalty Events and Rhoda Robinson, Executive Director of HACEY.
Also in the list were; Rosemond Yeboah, Founder of the RAY Foundation; and Richard Iyasere, a community leader in the Greater New York metropolitan area and Superintendent with the MTA.
Additional recipients included Mary Apollo, a South Sudanese youth ambassador and founder of The Four Directions; Audu Kadiri, community organizer and CEO of Youth Builders Initiative; Engr. Oluwakemi Ann-Melody Areola, former Special Assistant on Youth, ICT, and Corporate Relations, as well as Special Assistant on New Media to Nigerian Ministers; Dr. Prince Ero Ibhafidon, CEO of Waterlight Save Initiative; Isaac Bayoh, Youth Representative of Sierra Leone to the United Nations; and Henry Ukazu, Legal Coordinator for the NYC Department of Correction.
The list also featured Dr. Dior Fall, President and Founder of 1000 Shades of Women International; Saleah Blancaflor, TV reporter at ADWEEK; Luz Maria Utrera, UN Women Champion for Change, actress, and founder of Fundación Luz María; and many other distinguished personalities
The Beyond Beijing 30 Summit, presented by Sanicle and co-hosted by UNA-Nigeria, UNESCO Center of Peace, IBTK Foundation, Femtech Weekend, The Real Studios, Columbia University’s SIPA Pan-African Network (SPAN), AfricaTech NYC, and Luz Maria Foundation, convened a distinguished group of global leaders, policymakers, and changemakers at Columbia University SIPA to mark the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
Earlier a summit focused on advancing gender equity, health innovation, and economic empowerment for women, culminating in the NOVA Awards, which recognise trailblazers whose contributions continue to shape the future of gender equality was held.
The Beyond Beijing 30 Summit and NOVA Award outcomes will be officially presented at the World Bank Spring Meetings in April 2025 and during UNGA80 in September 2025.
It aims to move from palliative solutions to sustainable, long-term investments that address women’s health, economic participation, and leadership representation.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
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