The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has called on Nigerian women to pursue greater economic independence, saying financial empowerment is critical to strengthening their confidence, protecting them from abuse and increasing their influence in governance.
The minister made the call in Abuja when a delegation of the Business Women of Influence for Renewed Hope Agenda, led by its Director-General, Dr. Mrs. Ngozi Oyewole, paid a courtesy visit to her office.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim described Nigerian women as “phenomenal” and said her commitment to the ministry was driven by the responsibility entrusted to her to advance the interests of women, children, families and vulnerable groups across the country.
She urged women’s organisations and other stakeholders to support the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development regardless of who occupies the ministerial position, stressing that the institution remains central to promoting the welfare and development of women and other vulnerable groups.
The minister identified economic empowerment as a major pathway to improving women’s capacity to resist emotional, psychological and physical abuse.
According to her, women who are financially independent are better equipped to make decisions, confront challenges and participate meaningfully in social, economic and political affairs.
She encouraged women to embrace collective savings, investments and entrepreneurship, noting that pooling resources and supporting one another could strengthen their economic base and translate into greater political influence.
10 Million Women Movement
Speaking on the 10 Million Women Movement, Sulaiman-Ibrahim said the initiative was designed to mobilise women across political parties, geographical zones and generations into a formidable force for national development.
She explained that the movement would organise women at the ward level into groups where they could save, invest, support one another and collectively participate in decisions affecting their communities.
“The 10 million march is across party lines, across the geographical divide, across generations. It doesn’t matter what age you are,” she said.
The minister also stressed the need to bring more young women, particularly young professionals and those who had been forced out of their professions by economic difficulties, into the movement.
She called for systematic mobilisation and proper documentation of women across communities to ensure that the initiative becomes effective and sustainable.
Women Must Make Votes Count
Sulaiman-Ibrahim also urged women to take political participation seriously and ensure that their numerical strength translates into tangible influence at the polls.
She advised women to support one another politically and economically, stressing that collective action would enable them to demand greater representation and make their votes count.
“Women will not waste our votes. Everybody has become wise. You saw what’s happening in the country. Everybody is becoming a true politician,” she said.
The minister expressed confidence that Nigerian women, if properly organised and economically empowered, could play a decisive role in the country’s economic and political transformation.
Group Commends Minister
Earlier, the National Director of Media and Communications of Business Women of Influence for Renewed Hope Agenda, Ms. Evelyn Onyilo, who represented the Director-General, commended the minister for what she described as her energy, commitment and renewed drive towards the empowerment and mobilisation of Nigerian women.
Onyilo said the organisation had adopted Sulaiman-Ibrahim as its Grand Patron, expressing appreciation to her for accepting the responsibility and for her support for women-focused initiatives.
She particularly praised the minister’s 10 Million Women Movement, saying it had created a greater sense of inclusion among Nigerian women and demonstrated that they had an important role to play in governance and national development.
Onyilo also commended the minister’s interventions during engagements with women in Taraba and Rivers states.
She highlighted a ₦1 million grant provided to women in Taraba State, describing the intervention as a seed that could generate wider benefits for the beneficiaries and their families.
According to her, the beneficiaries subsequently organised themselves to receive the funds and resolved to operate a revolving scheme that would enable other women to benefit.
The organisation further expressed its readiness to partner with the ministry on initiatives aimed at creating sustainable economic opportunities for women, including programmes such as the GEE E-Mobility initiative.
Minister Honoured
The visit also featured the presentation of the Distinguished Women’s National Impact Award to Sulaiman-Ibrahim in recognition of her contributions to women’s empowerment and national development.
Receiving the award, the minister thanked the organisation for the honour and pledged to sustain collaboration with women’s groups and other stakeholders towards advancing the economic, social and political wellbeing of Nigerian women.
