By Dele Ogbodo
The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has quoted a World Bank data which says that closing gender gaps in Nigeria could unlock $9.3 billion empowerment opportunities annually.
This is coming even as she said $28 trillion can be realised globally through deliberate and unified effort according to the World Bank release.
The Minister made the disclosure at Women in Philanthropy and Impact Africa (WIPIA): A high-level strategic get-together in Lagos under the leadership of Dr. Anino Emuwa, in her honour.
According to her, the organized private sector is critical to helping the Ministry scale impact, reduce inequalities and unlock the immense potential of Nigerian women.
She acknowledged that as part of the Ministry’s ongoing push for documentation, visibility, and engagement, the Ministry will launch a 30th anniversary coffee-table publication that will chronicle the journey and milestones of Nigerian women.
The publication she averred will also spotlight trailblazing private sector champions who have meaningfully supported the Ministry’s efforts.
“Being featured in this publication is more than visibility—it is a symbol of shared legacy and national transformation,” she said.
The gathering convened private sector leaders, philanthropists, and development actors for a purpose-driven conversation on advancing the Ministry’s 10-million-women empowerment mandate and exploring the critical role of public-private partnerships in national transformation.
The gathering, according to a statement signed by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Mr. Jonathan Eze, was designed as an intimate but catalytic engagement with focused on accountability, connection, and collective action.
On her calling, she shared a deeply personal moment that shifted the trajectory of her career, adding…after being accepted into a Ph.D. program at Oxford University, UK, a critical health emergency involving her son redirected her life’s path.
During his treatment in London, she was struck by the quality of care he received care that was not readily accessible to many in Nigeria.
That moment according to her crystallized her commitment to return home and serve, ensuring that Nigerian women and children have access to the dignity, opportunities, and systems they deserve.
“That moment ignited a resolve in me—to ensure that every Nigerian woman and child has access to the opportunities, dignity, and care they deserve.” she said.
She went on to reflect on her reform-driven leadership, from repositioning NAPTIP, to impacting over two million displaced Nigerians as Federal Commissioner of Refugees, to her tenure as Nigeria’s first female Minister of Police Affairs, where she led foundational reforms in one of the country’s most rigid sectors.
Her call to action was direct and powerful: “We are seeking shared value partnerships, not just funding, but expertise, platforms, mentorship, and time,” she emphasized.
Key Ministry initiatives were also showcased during the brunch, including: The Happy Woman App – a digital platform for real-time access to opportunities and services, the Nigeria for Women Project – a large-scale economic empowerment program for rural women, the MOWA x SARA Accelerator, in collaboration with Wema Bank – advancing women’s protection, development, and inclusion.
Guests scanned a dynamic visual presentation of the Ministry’s mandate areas, offering real-time access partnership opportunities, the ministry’s strategic road map and a sneak peek of the upcoming publication.
Guests in attendance included: Erelu Abiola Dosunmu,HRH Erelu Dr. Chevalier Abiola Dosumu Erelu Kuti IV of Lagos, Yeye Oodua of Ile Ife, Ahunna Eziakonwa (UN Assistant Secretary-General and UNDP Director for Africa),Bola Shagaya (Founder/CEO, Bolmus Group International), Ernest Ndukwe (Chair, MTN Nigeria), Bola Adesola (Chair, Ecobank Nigeria), Kemi Ibru Da Silva (Founder, WARIF),
Claire Omatseye (Founder/MD, JNC International), Uju Ifejika (Chairperson/CEO, Brittania-U Nigeria Limited), Mark Okoye, CEO, South East Development Commission, Yetunde Oni (CEO, Union Bank), CEO, Kunbi Uzochukwu, MD, Delborough Lagos, Uche Pedro (Founder, BellaNaija), Mabel Makun and Dr Princess Oghene and many more champions of women-focused development.
