The Federal Government has reaffirmed its unwavering commitment to accelerating women’s economic empowerment and financial inclusion through stronger institutional collaboration, as the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, FSI, received a high-powered delegation from the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion (PreCEFI), Office of the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, led by the Technical Adviser to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion, Dr. Nurudeen Abubakar Zauro.
The visit armed at deepening collaboration towards the successful implementation of the second edition of the “She’s Included” National Initiative—a flagship platform designed to advance women’s financial inclusion, entrepreneurship, digital empowerment, access to finance, and economic participation in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
While welcoming the delegation,in her office, the Honourable Minister described the return of the initiative for a second edition as a clear testament to its impact, sustainability and growing national acceptance.
“The fact that we are witnessing a second edition of She’s Included is evidence of continuity and measurable impact. It demonstrates that we are on the right path towards building an inclusive economy where Nigerian women are not merely beneficiaries but active contributors to national development,” the Minister stated.
Hon.Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim applauded Dr. Zauro for championing women’s economic inclusion, describing him as a true “HeForShe” whose unwavering support reflects the collaborative leadership required to advance gender equality and national prosperity.
According to her, no nation can attain its full economic potential while excluding half of its population from opportunities for growth and development.
“No country has ever achieved its full potential by leaving half of its population behind. The Nigeria we envision is one where men and women work together to drive inclusion, prosperity and sustainable development,” Minister said.
Speaking further, She explained that the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs is deliberately repositioning women beyond the traditional role of intervention beneficiaries to become entrepreneurs, investors, wealth creators and owners of productive enterprises across strategic sectors of the economy.
She noted that the Ministry’s programmes are structured to ensure women participate across entire value chains, enabling them to own businesses, generate employment and contribute meaningfully to national economic growth.
Highlighting the Ministry’s flagship Women in Nigeria’s Gas Sector (WINGS) Programme, Hon. Sulaiman-Ibrahim stressed that women must take advantage of emerging opportunities within Nigeria’s energy sector by investing in clean cooking solutions, LPG distribution, gas infrastructure, fabrication, cylinder manufacturing, community gas skids and other energy-related enterprises.
“Women should not only access finance; they should own businesses, establish capital ventures, become financial experts and participate actively in sectors traditionally dominated by men. Through the WINGS Programme, we are creating pathways for women to become key players in Nigeria’s energy transition while addressing energy poverty and expanding clean cooking solutions,” she emphasized.
The Minister further underscored the importance of synergy among Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), development partners and the private sector to eliminate fragmentation and duplication of empowerment programmes.
She advocated the adoption of integrated beneficiary management systems, including biometric identification and digital tracking mechanisms, to ensure transparency, accountability and equitable distribution of government interventions.
“Government interventions must be coordinated. We cannot afford duplication where the same beneficiaries repeatedly access identical programmes while others remain excluded. By harmonising our efforts and leveraging technology, we can expand opportunities to millions more Nigerian women,” she added.
Earlier, the leader of the delegation and Technical Adviser to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion, Dr. Nurudeen Abubakar Zauro, commended the Honourable Minister for her visionary leadership, unwavering commitment and consistent support towards advancing women’s economic empowerment under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
He recalled that the maiden edition of She’s Included, held on 30 January 2025, has recorded remarkable success, resulting in expanded partnerships with global development institutions, particularly the World Bank, to promote women’s participation in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) as well as the energy sector.
Dr. Zauro disclosed that the Federal Government’s digital skills initiative has successfully onboarded over 263,000 Nigerians, with women and youth receiving priority consideration, while many beneficiaries are already undergoing training and others transitioning into employment opportunities through the newly introduced National Income Activation Programme.
“Our focus is no longer limited to training. We are creating pathways that connect trained beneficiaries directly to jobs, entrepreneurship and sustainable livelihoods through strategic partnerships with the private sector and development organisations,” he explained.
He further disclosed that, under the directive of Vice President Kashim Shettima, all gender-focused financial inclusion initiatives are coordinated through the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social underscoring the Ministry’s central role in implementing Nigeria’s Gender Policy and driving inclusive economic development.
The leader of delegation appealed to the Honourable Minister to provide strategic leadership for the implementation of this year’s She’s Included programme while expressing appreciation for the Ministry’s openness, collaboration and continued support in promoting women’s empowerment nationwide.
Speaking further, members of the delegation noted that the She’s Included Movement has evolved into a national platform that integrates the efforts of government institutions, development partners, financial institutions, private sector organisations and civil society to eliminate systemic barriers limiting women’s access to finance, technology, skills development and economic opportunities.
The meeting concluded with a renewed commitment by both the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and PreCEFI to strengthen collaboration, enhance policy coordination and accelerate inclusive programmes capable of unlocking the enormous economic potential of Nigerian women.
The partnership is expected to further advance President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda by promoting gender-responsive economic policies, expanding financial inclusion, creating sustainable livelihoods and positioning women as critical drivers of Nigeria’s aspiration towards a $1 trillion economy.
Ahmed Lawan Danbazau Mnipr
Head, Press and Public Relations Dept.(FMWASD)
