Federal Government empowers 10m women through bold economic initiatives to drive Nigeria’s \$1 trillion economy ambition
Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, disclosed this at a high-level side event of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.
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The event, themed Scaling Women’s Economic Empowerment: Financing Inclusive Growth for Peace,
Development, and Human Rights, showcased Nigeria’s progress through the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP).
She explained that phase one of the project mobilised more than 460,000 women into Women Affinity Groups across several states.
Collectively, these groups saved nearly ₦4.9 billion of their own funds, providing loans to expand businesses, cover health costs, and pay school fees.
Over 330,000 women also accessed livelihood grants, with many linked to banks, national identification systems, and health insurance.
Following a successful pilot in six states, the initiative has now expanded nationwide.
“The Women Affinity Groups are more than financial collectives. They have become platforms of voice, social capital, and agency.
They are reshaping communities, lowering household vulnerability, and strengthening democracy from below,” the minister said.
She added that the new Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions 774 will scale empowerment across all 774 local government areas, targeting 50 million women, children, and families.
Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazak, Chair of the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, hailed the project as both a moral imperative and an economic necessity, stressing that empowered women create stronger, more prosperous communities.
Other leaders, including Zamfara Governor Dauda Lawal and FCT Minister of State Dr Mariya Mahmoud, praised President Bola Tinubu’s administration for prioritising inclusivity and sustainable growth.
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Nigeria has committed to achieving a $1 trillion economy by 2030 under Tinubu’s “Renewed Hope Agenda.” Officials emphasise that women’s empowerment will be a cornerstone of this transformation.
Quadri Olaitan is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering news, public affairs, and human-interest stories.
