By Nafisat Makinde
The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has marked a significant milestone – her first 100 days in office. On February 5, 2025, she celebrated this achievement at the Minister’s Conference Room in Abuja, reflecting on the journey so far and reaffirming her commitment to women and children’s empowerment, protection, and inclusion. Imaan recalls a pivotal moment that defined her commitment to change.
She outlined a bold vision for transforming the lives of Nigerian women, children, and vulnerable populations. She said, “I vividly recall the day I held a four-year-old girl in my arms, trembling with fear after surviving the unacceptable horrors of abuse. In her eyes, I saw not just pain but a silent plea for protection, for justice, and for a future she could believe in.
With over 100 million Nigerian women and girls, and millions more children and vulnerable populations looking to us for leadership, action, and results, we must move from policies to action, from conversations to measurable impact, and from incremental progress to bold, systemic reforms. “The work of the Ministry of Women Affairs is guided by Nigeria’s international commitments and national policies, which serve as the foundation for our interventions.
We continue to lead the implementation of the National Gender Policy (2021), the National Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Policy, the Child Rights Act (2003), the National Action Plan on Women, Peace, and Security, and other critical frameworks. At the international level, our mandate aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security, and the AU Maputo Protocol, among others.
These frameworks provide a clear direction for our efforts, and under a renewed vision, we are accelerating their implementation to drive meaningful results.”The Ministry’s ambitious vision focuses on economically empowering 10 million women by 2027, aligning with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of a $1 trillion economy. She also highlighted steps to achieve this goal through the Nigeria for Women Scale-Up Project, which “targets 4.5 million women across all 36 states and the FCT, providing financial literacy, business development, and cooperative structures.” While addressing members of the Press, she added that “Economic empowerment remains one of the most effective ways to uplift women and dismantle systemic barriers that limit their potential.
MOWA-SARA Accelerated Skills Acquisition Programme, in collaboration with WEMA Bank, is set to train 500,000 women in key areas, including vocational skills, business entrepreneurship, and financial inclusion.” According to the Honourable Minister, “The first phase of the program is currently underway in Kano State, with 2,500 women being trained at the Ministry of Women Affairs Centre in Dederi and the Kano Hospitality & Tourism Institute in Gyadi-Gyadi.”
To further enhance access to finance, the Ministry is working on setting up a National Microfinance framework for Women Entrepreneurs. This initiative aims to bridge the financing gap for women, ensuring they have affordable credit, investment opportunities, and gender-responsive financial services to grow their businesses and contribute more effectively to national development.
In addition to financial empowerment, we have launched a food intervention program for women and vulnerable groups, recognizing the economic hardships that many families are facing.
By providing direct food assistance and supporting women-led agricultural initiatives, we are ensuring that no woman orchild is left behind in our collective journey toward prosperity. On Strengthening Child Protection and Legal Frameworks, ” Let me quickly state that a critical aspect of our work, which has historically been put on the back burner, is the protection and development of Nigerian children.
The Ministry is bringing it to the headline, to ensure that every child is safe, educated, and empowered to reach their full potential. She stated that one of the major milestones in her first 100 days in the office has been the establishment of a Child Rights Act Review Committee.
This committee is working to address gaps in the legal framework, ensuring that child marriage, trafficking, abuse, and violence are effectively tackled at all levels.” At the international level, the Ministry’s mandate aligns with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child, the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, the United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security, and the AU Maputo Protocol, among others.
These frameworks provide a clear direction for our efforts, and under a renewed vision, we are accelerating their implementation to drive meaningful results.
In addition, we are exploring opportunities for establishing a dedicated institution for Child Protection and Development.
The dedicated institution will implement child welfare policies, strengthen protection services, and provide holistic support for vulnerable children.” Also, a nationwide campaign to provide menstrual hygiene kits to 10,000 young girls is in progress, ensuring they stay in school and maintain their dignity.
On Ending Gender-Based Violence and Strengthening Global Partnerships, Nigeria remains committed. During her first visit to Bogotá, Colombia, on Ending Violence Against Children, she revealed that “I presented Nigeria’s pledge to provide comprehensive support services to 2 million children at risk of violence, abuse, and exploitation by 2030 and to deliver evidence-based parenting programs to 10 million families by 2030.
Nigeria will be making a bold and unified appearance at CSW69 in March in New York, and we are working to lead the global conversation on gender equality and women’s empowerment. According to the minister, “For the first time, six high-impact sessions have been designed, covering women’s leadership and empowerment, financial inclusion, and child protection.
This will mark a historic moment for Nigeria, as we shift from passive participation to active leadership in global gender advocacy.”Our participation at COP29 in Azerbaijan has also provided a platform to engage the international community on gender-responsive climate action.
Women are at the frontline of climate change impacts, and we are ensuring that their voices, solutions, and leadership are integrated into climate adaptation and mitigation strategies. In this regard, we are working to transition 1 million households from firewood-based cooking to clean and sustainable energy solutions.
On Strengthening Governance and Institutional PartnershipsIn recognition of the importance of collaborative governance, “we have strengthened our engagement with state governments, holding multiple sessions with Commissioners for Women Affairs across all 36 states. This has led to improved synergy, knowledge exchange, and policy alignment, ensuring that our national programs are effectively implemented at the state level.
To further enhance coordination, we have convened the High-Level Presidential Advisory Council on Women and Girls (HLAC). This council will drive and coordinate the implementation of gender-focused programs, ensuring that women and girls remain at the center of national development efforts.
This administration, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, understands that gender equality is not an option; it is the foundation for a stronger and more prosperous Nigeria.” The minister emphasized the need for stronger partnerships, faster implementation, and a unified approach to gender and social development.
Also, the need to fully implement policies, mobilize resources, and empower women. She ended her speech saying, “The time for incremental progress is over. The time for bold action is now. It is Women O’ Clock!”
