Tag: Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim

Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to inclusive social development and international cooperation.

Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, stated this at the Arab Ministerial Conference on the Implementation of the Doha Declaration 2025 in Amman, Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, where she represented the country.

Speaking before Arab ministers, heads of delegations and representatives of international and regional organisations, the minister conveyed the goodwill of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

She expressed Nigeria’s gratitude to the government and people of Jordan for convening what she described as a timely and purpose-driven dialogue on shared social development priorities.

In a statement issued on Wednesday by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Mr Jonathan Eze, Sulaiman-Ibrahim described the conference as a strong affirmation that social development is a fundamental human right and a cornerstone for peace, stability and sustainable prosperity across nations.

She noted that Nigeria fully aligns with the vision of the Doha Political Declaration 2025 and the outcomes of the Second World Summit for Social Development, explaining that the country’s policies are firmly rooted in Nigeria Agenda 2050 and the Renewed Hope Agenda of the current administration. 

According to her, these frameworks place people at the heart of governance, with deliberate emphasis on poverty reduction, human capital development and inclusive growth, particularly for women, children, families and vulnerable populations.

The minister outlined key institutional reforms underway to advance inclusive social progress, including the establishment of Regional Development Ministries and Agencies across the six geopolitical zones and the introduction of Ward Development Initiatives to promote balanced territorial development and grassroots inclusion.

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She also highlighted the institutionalisation of the National Social Investment Programmes through a dedicated agency, enabling the delivery of conditional cash transfers, youth employment initiatives, school feeding programmes and enterprise support to millions of Nigerians via an expanded and strengthened National Social Register.

Emphasising the role of technology in effective governance, Sulaiman-Ibrahim referenced the launch of Nigeria’s enhanced National Digital Identity Portal in 2025, noting that it has improved access to public services, strengthened transparency and enabled more targeted social protection. 

She expressed Nigeria’s readiness to deepen collaboration with Jordan and the League of Arab States in sharing best practices on digital inclusion and efficient service delivery.

The minister further underscored Nigeria’s investments in youth empowerment and innovation through initiatives such as the Nigeria Youth Investment Fund and the Creative Economy Development Fund, which are positioning young Nigerians, especially women, as entrepreneurs and drivers of economic transformation. 

These efforts, she said, are complemented by expanded investments in technical and vocational education, STEM programmes and a life-cycle approach to social development that safeguards citizens from early childhood through old age.

She drew attention to flagship interventions under the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, including the Renewed Hope Social Impact Intervention 774, which aims to empower over 10 million women within five years, strengthen family systems and institutionalise care through structured social workforce reforms. 

The Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up, targeting 4.5 million women nationwide, was described as a transformative platform for building women-led collectives that drive economic empowerment, social inclusion, leadership and community resilience.

Beyond domestic reforms, Sulaiman-Ibrahim noted that Nigeria continues to scale up investments in primary healthcare, maternal and child health, early childhood education, climate resilience, environmental sustainability and access to clean energy, while strengthening institutional capacity for social protection and data governance.

She stressed that the effective implementation of the Doha Declaration depends on sustained regional and international cooperation to address shared challenges such as climate change, economic volatility and demographic pressures. 

Under her leadership, she added, Nigeria has recorded stronger and more productive engagement with foreign governments and international development partners, advancing collaboration in women’s empowerment, protection of the girl child and support for vulnerable groups.

Observers, she noted, believe this growing international confidence has further strengthened Nigeria’s standing as a credible and committed partner in global social development.

The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s full commitment to the objectives of the Doha Declaration 2025 and to deepening cooperation with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and Arab League partners.

She urged delegates to measure success not merely by policy pronouncements but by the tangible impact on lives – women empowered, children protected and communities uplifted.

Former President of Ethiopia, Sahle-Work Zewde, and Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, have called for greater inclusion of women in positions of real authority across Africa, stressing that sustainable development on the continent depends on women’s leadership.

They made the call at the 14th edition of the Inspiring Woman Africa (IWA) Series, the theme: “Leadership Redefined: Charting New Paths to Excellence.”

Sulaiman-Ibrahim said the Federal Government of Nigeria remains committed to strengthening systems that support women and girls nationwide.

She noted that women are central to nation-building, describing them not just as participants but as “architects of new possibilities.”

According to her, President Bola Tinubu’s administration is focused on expanding opportunities for women and ensuring that gender equality and equity become a lived reality across sectors, particularly in women’s economic spaces.

The minister highlighted the Social Impact Intervention Programme 774, explaining that it is designed to reach all 774 local government areas in the country with targeted empowerment initiatives, capacity-building, and system-strengthening support.

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She also urged women to take full advantage of the ministry’s flagship digital platform, describing it as more than an application but a gateway to verified information, economic opportunities, mental health resources, legal support, safety tools, community networks, and direct ministry programmes.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim encouraged participants to build strong networks and support one another, stressing that leadership is about transformation, impact, and leaving every space better than it was found.

In her keynote address, Zewde emphasised that meaningful progress for women can only be achieved when they occupy legislative and executive positions of power. She warned that without authority to legislate and execute policies, women’s inclusion risks becoming a box-ticking exercise.

“If she doesn’t have the power to legislate or execute, much cannot be achieved,” the former Ethiopian president said, adding that women must also take control of their narratives.

“For a woman, if she doesn’t talk about herself or tell her story, nobody will. At least, nobody will write about her,” Zewde noted.

She further stressed the importance of solidarity among women, calling for amplified voices in addressing conflicts and humanitarian crises affecting women across Africa, including in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Sudan.

Zewde questioned why female candidates often struggle at the polls despite women forming the majority of voters, urging women to actively support one another politically.

She shared her personal journey, recalling that she was appointed ambassador at 37, marking the beginning of her leadership trajectory.

The IWA Series, founded by Kemi Ajumobi, is a pan-African initiative dedicated to empowering women by amplifying their voices, sharing their stories, and supporting their professional, personal, and leadership growth.

Other speakers at the event included Chinwe Iloghalu, Dr Busola Tejumola, Dr Nkiru Olumide-Ojo, Ozim Ibeziako, Obafemi Banigbe, Aisha Ndanusa Ahmad, Tonye Cole, Franca Clambella, Ugochukwu Obi-Chukwu, Patricia Obozuwa, Chinyere Okorocha, Folake Soetan, Abe Jawando, and Abiola Adediran.

Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has urged Nigerian women to work together with greater intentionality to expand their influence in politics, strengthen economic empowerment, and address systemic barriers that limit their advancement.

She spokel in Abuja yesterday at  Beijing+30 Women’s Summit, which is part of activities to mark 2025 edition of ‘16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence’.

The event organised by Amandla Institute for Policy and Leadership Advancement (AIPLA), in collaboration with African Women Leaders Network (AWLN-Nigeria) and Womanifesto, is a gathering to reflect on three decades of progress, challenges, and unfinished commitments under Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action (BPfA).

Speaking further, the minister, who acknowledged her experience in the gender space in Nigeria and UK, said her appointment was a divine opportunity to champion transformative change for women.

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The minister criticised the fragmentation that often weakens women’s chances in political contests, noting that women frequently compete against each other instead of uniting behind a single candidate.

“No country in the globe has the kind of resources we have. We are blessed, and we must work for each other,” she said, stressing the need for collaboration rather than competition among women.

“At what time have we been able to impress our political agendas like the men? The men have sponsors. They know how to organise, they know how to stay the course, they know how to manage their disappointments,” she said.

She emphasised that women must be strategic and intentional if they hope to secure meaningful representation in politics, pointing out that limited financial resources also constrain women during campaigns.

The minister also highlighted the broader social impact of empowering women, noting that when women have money, communities thrive.

Drawing from a visit to China, she cited examples of women’s economic empowerment, noting that 96 per cent of Chinese women own their homes and 68 per cent are economically empowered, a model she believes Nigeria can aspire to.

On gender-based violence, the minister shared a personal experience, saying she once faced bullying but rose above it.

She stressed the need for honest leadership, arguing that innovative leadership is insufficient without leaders who speak the truth and confront Nigeria’s democratic and social challenges sincerely.

“We cannot be part of a movement that has no struggles to protect our children,” she said, calling attention to the gaps in Nigeria’s child protection laws, including the Child Rights Act, which she noted must be updated to reflect emerging threats.

She revealed that several ministries, departments, and agencies are now prioritising investments in women because of their critical role across sectors, noting that women constitute about 70 percent of Nigeria’s medical workforce and dominate the SME space, though many have struggled for decades with limited access to formal financing.

“As a nation, if we don’t work together, we will not see results,” she said.

The minister also reaffirmed ongoing efforts to review laws and policies affecting women and children, including adoption processes, orphanage regulations, and broader child protection frameworks, to ensure they reflect today’s realities.

In her remarks, Co-founder of the Amandla Institute for Policy and Leadership Advancement, Erelu Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, urged African governments, institutions, and women’s rights advocates to intensify efforts toward achieving gender equality, warning that gains made since the 1995 Beijing Conference remain fragile and under threat.

However, she lamented that progress for African women over the last three decades has been uneven.

“The progress of African women since Beijing has been one of five steps forward and ten steps back,” she said. “We make gains, but our losses keep increasing.”

Adeleye-Fayemi recalled that concern for the future of women’s rights on the continent led to the establishment of the African Women’s Leadership Institute (AWLI) in 1996, targeted at young women aged 25–40.

“Our thinking back then was that we needed a cadre of women across the continent grounded in feminist theory and practice, gender mainstreaming and analysis, with strong leadership capacities,” she said.

Nearly three decades later, the AWLI has trained more than 10,000 women leaders across Africa, many of whom now occupy key decision-making roles, including in Nigeria.

The success of the institute spurred the creation of the African Women’s Development Fund (AWDF) in 2000, a pan-African grantmaking foundation which has supported more than 4,000 women’s organisations in 42 countries.

Adeleye-Fayemi noted that during her husband’s tenure as Governor of Ekiti State, the state became known for building one of Nigeria’s strongest legal and policy frameworks for gender equality—an example, she said, of what committed political will can achieve.

Adeleye-Fayemi warned of a rising global anti-gender movement but expressed confidence that continued collaboration, capacity-building, and feminist leadership would help safeguard progress.

She urged women’s organisations and stakeholders to remain vigilant, unified, and proactive.

“Our development will continue to be stunted if we do not prioritise the full and equal participation of women at all levels,” she said.

The summit continues in Abuja with delegates from across government, civil society, academia, and international organisations.

The Minister of Women Affairs, Dr. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has called for a collective action to protect the girl-child from harm and abuse to enable her to achieve her dreams.

She noted that every girl deserves the chance to dream, grow, and lead.

The minister urged young Nigerians to become advocates of mentorship and progressive leadership.

She stressed the need for a multi-sectoral approach to addressing issues about rape and gender-based violence.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim stressed that a collective responsibility is essential in protecting girls and women across the country.

The minister said this when she visited the Office of the National Youth Leader of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) Youth House in Abuja in commemoration of this year’s International Day of the Girl-Child.

She praised the APC Youth Wing for promoting youth and women’s inclusion within the party.

The event, which was organised by the APC Youth Wing, brought together young progressives, women’s leaders, and party members to highlight the importance of empowering, educating, and investing in the Nigerian girl-child.

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APC National Youth Leader, Dr. Dayo Israel, hailed Sulaiman-Ibrahim for her dedication to the welfare of women and girls.

He reiterated the Youth Wing’s commitment to gender inclusion and social development.

Israel stressed that “empowering the girl-child is empowering the next generation”.

The event featured an interactive session and a fireside chat where the minister shared insights from her leadership journey, inspiring participants to pursue purpose-driven careers and community service.

A major highlight of the event was the unveiling of the Progressive Young Ladies Network (PYLN) — a youth-led initiative aimed at fostering mentorship, leadership training, and active participation of young women within and beyond the APC.

There were sessions for the presentation of souvenirs, group photographs, and media interactions during the celebration.

Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has urged parents, community and religious leaders to invest in girls’ education to break the cycle of poverty.

She described education as a tool that lays the foundation for a more prosperous society and a key that unlocks the boundless potential of children.

The minister spoke at the National Conference on Girl Child Education held in Abuja.

She said: “When we educate a girl, we empower a generation.

“We prepare her to become a change-maker for her family, her community, and the nation at large.”

The minister referenced research from the Federal Ministry of Education and the World Bank which shows that every additional year of schooling increases a woman’s earning potential by 10–20 per cent.

She said: “In Nigeria, women make up 41 per cent of the labour force.

“Yet, despite their significant presence, millions of girls remain locked out of education, limiting their capacity to achieve their potential and contribute to national development.

“Imagine a Nigeria where every girl is given the tools to succeed—what a transformative impact it would have on our economy, our communities, and our collective future.

“The challenges we face in ensuring education for all girls are monumental but not insurmountable.

“An estimated 10.5 million Nigerian children are out of school, with girls making up the majority of this number.

“For many, early marriage, cultural norms, economic hardship, and violence act as insurmountable barriers to education.

“Harmful practices such as child marriage and female genital mutilation rob our girls of their futures.

“Girls are disproportionately affected by gender-based violence, trafficking, child labour, and other systemic inequalities.

“These barriers are not just obstacles—they are violations of human rights.

“They rob our children of their dignity, humanity, and future.

“As we gather here today, we must recommit ourselves to tearing down these barriers and providing every girl with the opportunity to learn, grow, and thrive.

“Despite the challenges, there are glimmers of hope.

“Initiatives like the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), supported by the World Bank, have demonstrated what is possible when we work together.

“AGILE has provided scholarships, created safe learning spaces, and supported underserved communities, ensuring that girls stay in school and succeed.

“These interventions exemplify the kind of collaboration we need to scale up and replicate nationwide.

“It may please you to know your excellencies and distinguished guest, that at the First Global Ministerial Conference on Ending Violence Against Children in Bogotá, Colombia, I proudly reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to ending violence against children.

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“Education was at the heart of that commitment because we recognise it as a powerful tool for protection and empowerment.

“We are also preparing to launch the National Costed Action Plan on Ending Child Marriage, which will enhance our ability to address this critical issue through sustainable, culturally sensitive approaches.”

The minister concluded that under the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Ministry of Women Affairs has developed a Strategic Action Plan (2024–2027) that outlines bold initiatives to address systemic challenges facing Nigerian girls.

Minister of Education, Dr Tunji Alausa, reminded religious and traditional leaders that they are in a position to raise awareness and champion the cause of girls’ education.

“By leveraging your platforms, you can inspire parents to embrace the transformative power of education for their daughters.”