The lots of the Nigerian women and girls would take a positive turn in the years ahead with the bold and ambitious initiative taken by the Minister of Women Affairs, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who launched a transformative roadmap for 2024-2027, aimed at advancing gender equality, empowering women, and protecting vulnerable groups in Nigeria.
At a high-level stakeholders’ event in Abuja, themed “Collaborative Pathways to Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment Roadmap,” the Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, outlined the ministry’s vision and ambitious goals for the next four years.
She emphasised that achieving the ministry’s mandate and ambitions required strong collaboration with communities, MDAs, development partners, and the international community.
The Minister emphasised significant barriers to achieving gender equality in Nigeria, including: High maternal mortality rates, with 1,047 deaths per 100,000 live births (WHO, 2023). Gender-based violence, with 33% of women aged 15-49 experiencing physical violence and 1 in 4 girls suffering sexual abuse before the age of 18 (NDHS, 2018). Limited political participation, with only 3.6% of women occupying parliamentary seats.
Economic barriers, with only 47% of women having bank accounts and 41% of women-led MSMEs struggling to access finance and markets (NBS, 2023).
Widespread use of firewood in 67.8% of households, posing health risks (NBS, 2024).
Ambitious Goals by 2027.
To address the challenges, the ministry aims to:
Launch a campaign to provide menstrual hygiene products and education to 10 million girls and women. Empower 10 million women to contribute to building a $1 trillion economy.
Provide psychosocial, legal, and reintegration support to 200,000 survivors of gender-based violence annually. Enroll 2 million out-of-school children, with a focus on girls, into safe learning environments. Train 1 million female smallholder farmers in climate-resilient agriculture. Transition 1 million households to clean and sustainable cooking energy. Reduce maternal mortality by 20% and establish six specialist hospitals for women and children.
Train and deploy 50,000 social workers and caregivers to support vulnerable families.
The Minister called on stakeholders, development partners, and the international community to support the ministry’s efforts through resource mobilisation and collaboration.
She emphasised the importance of strengthening policies, enhancing advocacy, and building institutional capacity to close gender gaps, protection of women and children, and ensuring a sustainable development.
“This roadmap is a shared vision for a Nigeria where women and children can survive, thrive, and prosper,” Suleiman-Ibrahim stated. “Together, we can create a legacy of empowerment and equity for generations to come.”
The roadmap aligns with ongoing efforts to address malnutrition, improve child protection, and increase women’s representation in leadership roles, signaling a comprehensive approach to achieving gender equality in Nigeria.
The Permanent Secretary in the Ministry, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, reiterated that the roadmap, “Pathways to Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment” was not just a framework, it is a strategic blueprint that lays out actionable steps to address the systemic barriers that have held women and girls back for far too long.
The UNDP Country Representative, Elsie Attauah, stated “At UNDP, we believe that gender equality is not just a fundamental human right; it is also a precondition for sustainable development, peace, and prosperity. Nigeria has made notable strides, yet we know there is much more to be done.
Represented by Onyinye Ndubuisi, Gender Lead at UNDP, the country representative reaffirmed the organization’s commitment to advancing gender justice, Stressing the need for decisive action to protect and empower women and girls, strengthening partnerships to amplify impact, and foster collaboration to ensure no woman or girl is left behind.
The UN Women Representative in Nigeria, Beatrice Eyong, acknowledged the progress made despite challenges, highlighting Nigerian women’s competence and expertise, citing Amina Mohammed, UN Deputy Secretary-General.
However, she noted that while Nigerian women excel globally, they lack opportunities domestically. She emphasized that gender-based violence is costing Nigeria 1.5% of its GDP, stressing that the issue goes beyond physical harm.
Eyong also urged continued advocacy following the 16 Days of Activism against gender-based violence and reaffirmed UN Women’s dedication to gender equality and women’s empowerment.