The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs has partnered with the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women and the Labour African Network to unveil the SheThrives initiative, a strategic programme aimed at accelerating women’s economic empowerment in Nigeria.
The high-level gathering, held in London on March 17, brought together key stakeholders from government, business, philanthropy, and civil society. The event took place on the sidelines of the state visit of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to the United Kingdom.
The initiative, SheThrives, represents a formalised partnership between the Ministry and the Cherie Blair Foundation, designed to scale up support for women-led enterprises across Nigeria. It is also backed by partners including the Osahon Okunbo Foundation and sponsors such as Loyz Marine Services Ltd.
Speaking at the event, Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, said the programme aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises inclusive economic growth and social development.
She explained that SheThrives aims to connect women entrepreneurs to essential resources such as skills, finance, markets, and opportunities, while contributing to the Federal Government’s target of empowering 10 million women within three years and building a $1 trillion economy.
UK Deputy Prime Minister, David Lammy, described the initiative as a significant step toward enhancing economic opportunities for Nigerian women. He noted that economic growth remains central to the UK government’s mission and its enduring partnership with Nigeria.
Founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, Cherie Blair, emphasised the importance of supporting women entrepreneurs, noting that despite their significant population, many Nigerian women still face barriers in starting and growing businesses.
Also speaking, Denise Scott-McDonald of the Labour African Network described women’s economic empowerment as both a moral obligation and an economic strategy, stressing that partnerships like SheThrives are critical to expanding access to finance, skills, markets, and networks.
In his remarks, Osahon Okunbo reaffirmed the commitment of the Osahon Okunbo Foundation to supporting the initiative, particularly in advancing opportunities for women in Nigeria’s creative industries, including film, music, fashion, and art.
The event, held at the prestigious Raffles London at The OWO, featured a fireside discussion between Cherie Blair and Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim, focusing on strategies to build a more inclusive and gender-equal business environment.
Observers say the SheThrives initiative marks a significant step in strengthening Nigeria-UK relations while promoting women’s participation in economic activities and driving sustainable national development.
