The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to expanding opportunities for women through social impact interventions and creating an enabling environment for sustainable national development.
Mrs Tinubu, who was represented by Fatima Abbas-Tajudeen, wife of the Speaker of the House of Representatives, spoke at the “Give to Gain” summit marking the 2026 International Women’s Day. The event was organised by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and partners in Abuja on Monday.
The summit, themed ‘Rights, Justice, Action for All Women and Girls’, highlighted the critical role of Nigerian women in businesses, families, and communities, while calling for stronger structured support systems nationwide.
Mrs Tinubu said the President Bola Tinubu administration remains focused on policies and investments that impact women, families, and communities under the Renewed Hope Agenda in the areas of enterprise, agriculture, social protection, and innovation.
“Through this initiative, the Ministry is advancing a coordinated approach to expanding opportunities for women and families across the country.
“This structured effort ensures real impact at the community level.
“The conversations here must translate into action, partnerships, investments, and programmes that make measurable differences in the lives of women today and across Nigeria,” she said.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, said Nigeria’s $1 trillion economy ambition depends heavily on women, who drive more than 40 per cent of agriculture but still face exclusion. She stressed that empowering women is essential for national progress.
She noted that women-owned businesses remain largely concentrated in the informal sector, with over 80 per cent operating without access to formal credit or structured markets.
“The “Give to Gain” initiative demonstrates how providing women with access, tools, and trust generates exponential returns for families, communities, and the wider economy,” she said.
Mrs Sulaiman-Ibrahim reiterated President Tinubu’s support for women’s empowerment, noting that opportunity drives prosperity while systems and security foster peace and stability under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“The struggle for equality and equity continues. Let us therefore rise with renewed purpose to give, to grow, and to lift as we climb. For when women rise together, nations do not merely develop; they transform,” she said.
The UN Women Country Representative, Mrs Beatrice Eyong, represented by Patience Ekeoba, Acting Deputy Representative, said Nigerian women excel across sectors but remain underrepresented in political leadership and public decision-making roles.
“This is not because women lack competence or ambition.
“It is because structural barriers, unequal access to campaign finance, violence in politics, discriminatory norms, and limited opportunities continue to constrain their participation,” she said.
Dr Emomotimi Agama, Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), represented by Bola Ajomale, identified limited access to finance as a major barrier to women’s empowerment. He urged stronger gender-responsive investments across markets and institutions.
“We believe that women care more about the environment than men do. There is a lot of money waiting for sustainable investments, and we believe women will drive this. We need to be deliberate about putting finance and capital behind women,” he said.
Highlights of the event included the unveiling of the Give to Gain Empowerment Initiative, testimonials from the Nigeria for Women Scale-Up Project and the Renewed Hope WAVE Program 774, as well as panel discussions on leadership and capital markets.
