Social inclusion leaders have charted a path for equity and inclusion at the Gender and Inclusion Summit (GS-25), which brought together policymakers, development partners, civil society, and private sector leaders.
Organised by the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), the summit, held in Abuja, carried the theme “New Voices and New Approaches for Accelerating an Inclusive Society.“
It brought together diverse perspectives in what was described as a collective effort to chart the course for continental development.
In an interview with Voice of Nigeria, the Executive Director of the Policy Innovation Centre, Osasuyi Dirisu, said the summit was designed to move beyond rhetoric to real solutions.
“It is not just a conversation platform but an advocacy platform. After the summit, we develop the Purple Book containing all the recommendations and take them to stakeholders to co-create initiatives and implement solutions,” she explained.
Dirisu emphasised that inclusion must also translate into political power, not just through the urgent passage of the Reserve Seats Bill, but across all spheres.
“There is an urgent need to drive up participation of women in leadership at different levels—from local government to the private sector and universities. The evidence is clear: the more you include and empower women, the better it is for society and for future generations,” she stated.
Dirisu said that lessons from previous summits are already shaping community-led interventions, stressing that exclusion weakens the nation’s foundations.
“Some of the things we learned from last year’s summit about driving community-led interventions, we came into this year and used those learnings to design the solutions we are now implementing in the states. Social inclusion is a social justice issue.
“The more we exclude some people, the more we create the wedges that divide us further as a country,” she noted.
A Platform for Dialogue and Action
Also the Chairman of the Policy Innovation Centre, Udeme Ufot described the summit as “a central platform for reflection, dialogue, and collaboration.”
Ufot recalled how previous editions had evolved from identifying linkages between gender and governance to advancing cross-sectoral approaches and reimagining poverty reduction pathways.
“From each summit, we did not merely discuss; we acted,” he said.
Ufot highlighted that insights were consistently documented in the Purple Book, now in its third edition.
According to him, “The Purple Book has become a tool for sustained advocacy, a guide for policy engagement, and a roadmap for action.”
NESG: Urgency For Bold Action
Delivering his remarks, the Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Niyi Yusuf, described GS-25 as “a significant milestone in our collective journey toward an inclusive Nigeria.”
Yusuf stressed that Nigeria’s greatest resource is its people, yet too many remain excluded from the nation’s progress.
“Our nation’s greatest resource is its people: diverse, youthful, innovative, and resilient. Yet too many of our citizens remain excluded from the benefits of growth,” he noted.
Yusuf warned that inequality undermines governance, weakens productivity, and erodes cohesion, insisting that inclusion is no longer optional but essential.
“Let us not be afraid to challenge assumptions, to question old models, and to propose bold new ideas. Only then can we accelerate the building of an inclusive society,” he stressed.
Yusuf reminded participants that inclusion was central to Nigeria’s commitments under global agreements such as the Beijing Declaration and the Sustainable Development Goals.
He said; “Thirty years ago, in 1995, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action established the global agenda for gender equality. It was a turning point, but nearly three decades later, many of the commitments remain unmet.”
He affirmed NESG’s resolve: “At NESG, we are committed to ensuring that insights from this summit are not just conversations but are translated into practical strategies, embedded in national policies, and implemented in ways that touch the lives of ordinary Nigerians.”
New Voices, New Approaches
Throughout the summit, participants emphasised the urgency of listening to marginalised voices, from rural women and young innovators to persons with disabilities and displaced communities.
“Inclusion begins with listening,” he said.
“Policies must be gender-responsive and data-driven, with financing models that break barriers for women-owned enterprises,” Yusuf added.
A Call to Action
As GS-25 concluded, leaders urged courage and creativity in tackling exclusion.
“Inclusion is not just a policy agenda; it is a moral imperative.
“Let us see this summit not merely as an event but as a catalyst for action.
“Investing in women yields the most substantial benefits for societal progress,” he affirmed.
Plenaries, presentations, and deliberations underscored systemic inequities across Africa, ending with a renewed commitment to accelerate Nigeria’s path toward an inclusive society, guided by the Purple Book and strengthened by new voices and approaches.
The Policy Innovation Centre, an initiative of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, remains the continent’s leading institutionalised behavioural initiative, dedicated to supporting governments and stakeholders in designing evidence-based and inclusive solutions.