|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Summary
At the Nigerian Women’s Day event at CSW69 in New York, Minister of Women Affairs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim urged accelerated action in women’s leadership and economic empowerment. She highlighted systemic barriers that Nigerian women face, including financial exclusion and political underrepresentation, and called for policy changes to address them. Speaking on a high-level panel, she also emphasised the connection between women’s financial empowerment and national development. Her remarks come as Nigeria faces political turmoil following Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan’s controversial suspension, further raising the challenges women face in leadership.
The honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has called for urgent action to accelerate women’s leadership and economic inclusion in Nigeria. Speaking at the Nigerian Women’s Day event at the ongoing 69th session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in New York, she highlighted the strides Nigerian women have made over the past 30 years but stressed that more work remains.
“We must push forward, accelerate progress, and ensure women remain at the centre of Nigeria’s development,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim said in her speech, which she shared on Instagram on Monday, Mar. 17, 2025.
Despite Nigerian women playing a crucial role in economic development, they continue to face significant obstacles. Imaan noted that women make up 70% of smallholder farmers but struggle to access finance. Similarly, while 41% of small businesses are run by women, funding remains a major challenge. In politics, only 3.6% of federal parliamentary seats are held by women, an imbalance she said must change. “It’s time to remove these barriers and unlock women’s full economic potential,” she said.
Imaan further emphasised that women are not just participants in leadership but essential drivers of progress. She highlighted the need for access to mentorship, funding, and leadership pipelines to ensure women’s equal representation. “Equal representation isn’t optional—it’s essential for national progress. When women lead, economies thrive. Leadership should be an expectation, not a battle,” she said.
She also pointed to the efforts under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda,” which include boosting women’s leadership in key industries, expanding financial inclusion, and ensuring women’s voices shape policies. “Women must not just participate—they must lead,” she declared. “The future is female, and the time for change is now.”
Beyond her address at Nigerian Women’s Day, Imaan also participated as a panellist at the High-Level Regional Ministerial Panel on “Empowering Women, Transforming Economies: Success Stories from Africa.” She shared key achievements in advancing women’s inclusion and tackling social issues such as sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV), nutrition, education, and climate change.
“The link between women’s financial empowerment and decision-making is undeniable. When women thrive, households and communities flourish,” she stated. “We will continue to push for policies that uplift and empower women.”
Imaan’s remarks come at a time when Nigeria’s political climate is under scrutiny following the unlawful suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan. The senator’s removal has sparked outrage among women’s rights groups, who view it as an attack on female political participation. Amid these challenges, Imaan’s call for increased women’s leadership and policy influence carries even greater urgency.
