The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Her Excellency Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, on Thursday officially launched the Inclusive Network for Supporting Progressive Leadership, Innovation, Reform and Equity for Women (INSPIRE), a landmark initiative designed to strengthen women’s leadership, inclusion and professional advancement within the Federal Civil Service.
The launch took place during the International Civil Service Conference 2026 held at the Eagle Square, Abuja, under the theme: “Reforms, Resilience and Results.”
Speaking at the ceremony, the First Lady described INSPIRE as a transformational platform that would deepen inclusion, improve institutional excellence and empower women across all cadres of the Nigerian Civil Service.
“This initiative speaks to the kind of Civil Service we must continue to build: one that supports its workforce, rewards competence, promotes fairness, encourages innovation, creates opportunities for professional growth, and truly reflects equity and excellence,” Senator Oluremi Tinubu stated.
She emphasized that women remain critical drivers of governance and national development, noting that empowering women would strengthen institutions and improve service delivery across the country.
“When women are empowered, institutions become stronger, governance improves and citizens benefit from better service delivery. That is why initiatives like INSPIRE are not just important for women alone; they are vital for national progress,” she said.
The First Lady further stressed the importance of early leadership development and mentorship for women in the public sector.
“A young officer who is properly mentored today may become the Permanent Secretary, Head of Service, Minister or a national leader tomorrow,” she added.
Officially unveiling the programme, Senator Tinubu declared:
“To the Glory of Almighty God and benefit of women across the Nigerian Civil Service, I hereby officially launch INSPIRE — the Inclusive Network for Supporting Progressive Leadership, Innovation, Reform and Equity for Women.”
In her goodwill message, the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, FSI, described the initiative as a timely intervention that aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and Nigeria’s broader gender equality commitments.
According to the Minister, despite women constituting a substantial percentage of the civil service workforce, representation at senior leadership and decision-making levels remains significantly low.
“The higher the level of decision-making, the thinner their representation becomes. This is not a coincidence. It is the consequence of a legacy system with structural weaknesses, and it is a gap we can no longer afford,” she stated.
She underscored the economic implications of women’s exclusion, revealing that gender inequality continues to undermine national productivity.
“Estimates indicate that women’s economic exclusion costs Nigeria up to 37 percent loss in productivity. It is therefore clear that Mr. President’s vision of achieving a one trillion dollar economy demands that we act differently,” the Minister noted.
Hon. Sulaiman-Ibrahim called on institutions and leaders to move beyond rhetoric by implementing concrete reforms that support women in the workplace.
“We must fully implement the six-month maternity leave policy without exception or penalty. Women must never be forced to choose between caring for a child and building a career,” she said.
She also advocated for workplace crèches, gender-responsive budgeting, affirmative procurement policies and deliberate mentorship structures that would accelerate women into senior leadership positions.
Earlier in her welcome address, the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Esther Walson-Jack, OON, mni, described INSPIRE as a strategic and structured response to the systemic barriers limiting women’s advancement in public service.
“INSPIRE is designed to directly and decisively address the structural barriers, including limited access to mentorship, inadequate sponsorship networks, and institutional inertia, that have historically constrained the advancement of women in public service,” she stated.
Mrs. Walson-Jack explained that the initiative would provide leadership development, peer mentoring, career visibility, institutional advocacy and policy reform opportunities for women across all levels of the Federal Civil Service.
“Today, we make a clear statement: reform must carry women along. Innovation must benefit from women’s ideas. Leadership must recognise women’s capacity. Results must reflect the full strength of our workforce,” she declared.
The Head of Service further emphasized that INSPIRE would not be a symbolic programme, but a sustainable institutional network designed to foster mentorship, solidarity, innovation and excellence.
Delivering a goodwill message on behalf of the Executive Director of UN Women, Ms. Sima Bahous, who is the Regional Director for West and Central Africa, Dr. Maxime Houinato, commended Nigeria’s recent strides in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment through policies and programmes under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He highlighted key interventions including the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions (RHSI-774), EmpowerHer774, the Nigeria for Women Programme, the National Women’s Economic Empowerment Policy and the domestication of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act in most states.
Dr. Houinato, however, noted that Nigeria still faces significant gender representation gaps, particularly in political and institutional leadership.
“The launch of INSPIRE today comes at a critical juncture in the Government’s resolve to advance gender equality and the empowerment of women and girls through the instrumentality of the Federal Civil Service,” he said.
He added that UN Women had committed to supporting the initiative through a Memorandum of Understanding signed with the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.
“INSPIRE stands as a timely and strategic response for bridging gaps, amplifying voices, and catalyzing partnerships that would advance systemic and sustainable change,” he stated.
The event attracted top government officials, development partners, Permanent Secretaries, heads of agencies, diplomats, civil servants, gender advocates and international stakeholders committed to promoting inclusive governance and institutional reforms in Nigeria.
The INSPIRE initiative is expected to serve as a living network for mentorship, collaboration, leadership development and policy advocacy aimed at positioning women as equal partners in Nigeria’s public sector transformation agenda.
Ahmed Lawan Danbazau Mnipr
Head,Press and Public Relations, FMWASD
