The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, on Saturday in Abuja said that investing in women is essential to achieving sustainable societal progress.
She made the remark at the launch of a book titled “From Margin to Mainstream, Volume 2: Towards Inclusive Governance”, authored by Princess Nikky Onyeri, a Nigerian cancer treatment advocate.
The event also marked Onyeri’s 60th birthday and the unveiling of her new NGO, the Rise Up Women Initiative (RUWI).
Sulaiman-Ibrahim reaffirmed her commitment to supporting initiatives that advance the development and empowerment of Nigerian women. She said the Renewed Hope Women Agenda under President Bola Tinubu is designed to create opportunities for women to achieve their full potential.
Commending Onyeri, she said: “The book recognizes the critical role women play in society, and I will continue to project women’s plight to the world.”
The minister highlighted several initiatives of the ministry, noting that the Happy Woman App connects women to resources, mentorship, and opportunities for both personal and professional growth.
She added that the Women and Youth Value Enhancement (WAVE) programme promotes entrepreneurship, vocational skills and access to finance, enabling women and youth to build sustainable livelihoods.
According to her, the Women’s Resource and Innovation Centre (WRIC) serves as a hub for innovation, collaboration and support for women-led enterprises across various sectors.
She also said the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions (RH-SII-774) deliver tailored support across all local government areas, ensuring women benefit from inclusive governance and social development programmes.
“These efforts, guided by President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, focus on inclusive governance, economic empowerment and social development,” she said, stressing the need to amplify the voices of the marginalized.
Earlier, Director-General of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), Dr Asabe Vilita-Bashir—who reviewed the book—commended Onyeri for spotlighting the transformative journey of Nigerian women.
She said the book aligns with the administration’s mission to empower women.
“By the time you read through all the chapters, you will appreciate the writer because the work aligns with the core mission of this administration for women,” Vilita-Bashir said.
She added that the government has launched several programmes recognizing that women are central to national development.
Chairman of the occasion, Mr Mohammed Ndarani-Mohammed (SAN), described the publication as a “moment of intellectual triumph,” noting that it provides practical tools to equip women with knowledge, skills and confidence to shape their future.
Onyeri, founder of the Princess Nikky Breast Cancer Foundation, said the event also served as a thanksgiving celebration, recalling how she survived breast cancer three decades ago after being given six months to live.
She said the programme included health screenings and empowerment sessions for vulnerable women and expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for increasing women’s representation in governance.
“Next year, we plan to empower more women to go into business so they can support their families,” she said, adding that she also intends to advance her political career to further champion women’s causes.
