The Federal Government has unveiled plans to empower 10 million women by 2027 as part of its strategy to transform Nigeria into a $1 trillion economy by 2030. The announcement was made by the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, during an event to commemorate International Women’s Day, themed ‘Accelerate Action, Empowering Women Through Financial Literacy & Inclusion.’
Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasized the importance of financial literacy and inclusion in enabling women to make informed economic decisions. “When women are financially literate, they can influence their own economic destiny, secure their families’ future, and become change-makers in society,” she stated.
The minister identified key barriers to women’s economic participation, including limited access to credit, exclusion from formal financial systems, and vulnerability to fraudulent schemes. She called for urgent interventions to address these challenges and unlock the potential of Nigerian women, who own about 40% of small businesses in the country.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Emomotimi Agama, described women as critical to the capital market and wealth distribution. He stressed that financial education is essential to empowering women and protecting them from fraudulent schemes.
“The objective of this government is to empower women. We must educate women and bring them to the forefront of national recognition when it comes to the capital market,” Agama said. He commended the minister for her commitment to women’s empowerment and highlighted the partnership between SEC and the Ministry of Women Affairs to drive financial literacy initiatives nationwide.
The SEC also announced plans to train selected women in capital market activities through its training arm, the Nigerian Capital Market Institute. This initiative aims to equip women with the skills and knowledge needed to participate effectively in the economy and contribute to Nigeria’s growth.
The government’s plan to empower 10 million women aligns with its broader vision of achieving inclusive economic growth and positioning Nigeria as a global economic powerhouse.
