By Rosemary Okoduwa
The Federal Government has reiterated its commitment to advancing women’s empowerment, gender equality, and child protection across the country.
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imman Sulaiman-Ibrahim, gave the reassurance on Thursday in Benin City during the 25th Regular National Council Meeting on Women Affairs and Child Development.
Speaking at the event, the minister stressed that empowering women is essential to Nigeria’s economic progress. She noted that closing the gender gap in labour force participation could inject as much as $229 billion into the nation’s GDP by 2030.
As part of efforts to support rural and urban women, the programme featured the distribution of cooking gas kits to 100 women to promote clean-cooking practices, as well as financial support to small-scale women entrepreneurs.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim highlighted several ongoing initiatives of the ministry, including the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions, which seek to increase women’s involvement in agriculture, clean energy adoption, and entrepreneurship. She also referenced the Families First Initiative and plans for a National Care Economy Framework aimed at strengthening family systems and care-based jobs.
The minister commended Edo State for its recognition as one of the seven CEDAW Cities in Nigeria an acknowledgment she described as a major step in domesticating global gender equality commitments. She urged other states to emulate Edo’s leadership and called for stronger accountability and collaboration in promoting women’s rights.
Celebrating recent progress, she noted that Nigerian women are breaking significant barriers in leadership and sports, describing women’s empowerment as “a strategic pathway to unlocking national prosperity and resilience.”
Representing Governor Monday Okpebholo, Deputy Governor Dennis Idahosa reaffirmed Edo State’s readiness to advance gender inclusion and create opportunities for women and children to thrive.
Idahosa highlighted Edo State’s long history of women trailblazers, citing figures such as Queen Idia, Emotan, and the late Professor Grace Alele-Williams. He also celebrated the recent appointment of Prof. Idia Ize-Iyamu as the first female Chief Medical Director of the University of Benin Teaching Hospital another milestone for women in leadership.
The governor outlined ongoing state initiatives, including interest-free loans for women, reforms in the Ministry of Women Affairs, and the elevation of more women into strategic leadership roles. He emphasized the importance of working with development partners to build sustainable frameworks for empowerment and inclusion.
Urging women and young people to seize emerging opportunities, he declared: “This is your time to shine.”
Governor Okpebholo expressed appreciation to the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and development partners for their continued support.
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