By: Glory Ohagwu
The 25th Regular National Council on Women Affairs and Child Development opened in Benin City, Edo State, with a renewed commitment by policy drivers to strengthen systems, deepen social impact, and advance the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for women, children, families, and vulnerable groups.
Delivering her address, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Women Affairs, Fatima Faruk, commended the Edo State Government for its warm hospitality and lauded the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim for providing strong national leadership in the advancement of women’s empowerment, protection, and inclusion.
“Under your guidance, the Ministry has articulated a clear focus on skills development, entrepreneurial empowerment, political participation for women, and protection against gender-based violence,” she said.
“Empowering women is not just a moral imperative — it is an economic necessity,” Faruk emphasized, adding that her office has commenced state visits across the country to promote girls’ rights, combat domestic violence, and conduct welfare checks for women in correctional facilities.
She urged stakeholders to translate deliberations into measurable actions that deliver real impact at the grassroots.
“Beyond this Council meeting, we must bring the Renewed Hope Social Agenda to vivid reality for women, children, families, and vulnerable groups nationwide,” she said.
In her remarks, Mrs. Edesiri Okpebholo Anani, Coordinator, Office of the First Lady of Edo State, reaffirmed Edo’s alignment with the Federal Government’s vision for inclusive growth through the Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention (RH-SII) framework.
Highlighting Edo’s progress in clean energy access, disability inclusion, and economic empowerment for women, she stated: “Through the Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention, our nation is charting a new course for human capital development and social inclusion,”
She noted that Edo’s SHINE Agenda, championed by the Governor Senator Monday Okpebholo, was transforming lives through strategic investments in families, education, and social protection.
“Our vision is simple yet profound — to empower women, strengthen families, and transform communities. When women thrive, children are better educated, and communities prosper,” she said.
Earlier, Mrs Eugenia Abdallah, Edo State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, underscored the significance of the conference theme, describing it as a timely call for collective action.
“This gathering is not just a meeting; it is a call to reflection, renewal, and collaboration,” she stated.
She highlighted Edo’s recent gains — over 5,000 women empowered through vocational initiatives, the implementation of the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Law, and strengthened child protection and disability inclusion mechanisms in partnership with donor agencies.
“These achievements reflect Edo State’s unwavering commitment to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu and the SHINE Agenda of His Excellency Senator Monday Okpebholo,” she affirmed.
The policy drivers expressed optimism that the Council’s resolutions would further strengthen partnerships among National and Sub Regional stakeholders, accelerating the social transformation of women, children, and families across Nigeria.
The session also featured the distribution of 100 gas cylinders to promote clean energy cooking and 30,000 Naira business support grant to 100 Edo women .
Olusola Akintonde