Minister of Women Affairs vows to lead women’s affairs with vision for equality and empowerment

Minister of Women Affairs Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim has pledged a transformative agenda focused on the advancement of women, children, and vulnerable groups across the nation.

In her inaugural address at the Ministry’s conference room, she extended gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his trust and affirmed her commitment to tackling systemic barriers affecting Nigerian women.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim outlined her priorities, including skill development, economic empowerment, political inclusion, and support for gender-based violence survivors.

With Nigerian women representing nearly half of the population, she stressed the urgency of closing gender gaps, particularly in employment and political representation, where women occupy less than 5% of elective positions and hold under 22% of senior roles in the private sector.

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Acknowledging recent improvements in Nigeria’s gender equity ranking, Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasized the need for continued progress, noting that while Nigeria moved up in the 2024 Global Gender Gap Report, substantial efforts remain to reach parity.

She also highlighted the economic contribution of women-owned enterprises, which constitute 41% of SMEs, and pledged support to maximize their growth potential.

The Minister further promised collaboration with the Ministry of Justice and security agencies to strengthen protections for women and children and enforce gender equality laws.

She vowed that her leadership would prioritize tangible results, stating, “It is indeed Women O’clock in Nigeria. I am here for you, and together, we will break down barriers, protect rights, and make dreams achievable for every Nigerian woman.”

She called for collaboration among government bodies, private sector leaders, civil society, and international partners to drive forward a shared vision of inclusivity and justice for all.