The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to advancing initiatives that empower women, uplift families and improve the lives of vulnerable groups across the country.
The Minister, Mrs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, gave the assurance on Tuesday at the inauguration of the Ene Obi Development Centre (EODC) at the National Assembly Library in Abuja.
She described the centre as “a beacon of light, shining brightly in the pursuit of a better future for Nigerian women, girls, families and the less privileged.”
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said the centre’s focus on training, skills development and support services underscored the power of education and hard work in driving positive societal change.
“The Federal Government is committed to supporting initiatives that promote women’s empowerment, transform families and uplift the most vulnerable in our society,” she said.
“I believe this centre has the potential to be a game changer in our efforts to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment. At the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, our doors are open for collaboration, and you have my support always.”
The Executive Director of the African Centre for Leadership, Strategy and Development (Centre LSD), Dr Otive Igbuzor, urged the government to safeguard civic freedoms to protect human rights and strengthen citizen participation. He also called on the National Assembly to pass the Reserved Seats Bill.
“Silence is not an option. I call on women and youths to lift their voices and assert their positions; Nigeria needs your leadership,” he said.
He further appealed to development partners to support institutions like the EODC to advance community development and social justice.
The Country Representative of ActionAid, Dr Andrew Mamedu, described Ene Obi as “bold, compassionate, fearless and dogged,” noting that ActionAid was proud to partner with the centre.
“We have a vision that in the next nine years, we will contribute to lifting five million Nigerians out of poverty. We cannot achieve that without collaborating with organizations like EODC,” he said.
Founder of EODC, Ene Obi, said the inauguration marked the fulfillment of a long-standing vision. She praised the resilience of young women and pledged the centre’s commitment to providing mentorship to young Nigerians and Africans.
“The life of a young woman is truly special, but there are barriers, and someone needs to create space for them,” she said.
“Every day in Nigeria, we see brilliance, resilience and potential, but also the struggles and barriers that hinder young people from opportunities—inequalities that limit women, systems that fail communities and social injustices that silence the vulnerable.”
She said the centre was created to champion gender equality, strengthen governance and human rights, support youth leadership, promote equity and ensure that marginalized groups are not forgotten.
“We exist to create programmes that change lives and stimulate community development,” she added.
Obi called for stronger collaboration among government agencies, development partners, academia and the private sector, urging them to support the centre and hold it accountable.
