FG Moves to Scale Up Women Empowerment Programmes

By Diafa Doubra,

The Federal Government has announced fresh plans to strengthen and expand women empowerment initiatives across the country as part of its broader agenda for inclusive economic growth.

Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, disclosed this in Abuja on Tuesday while addressing journalists at the launch of a new partnership programme with development agencies. According to her, the initiative will focus on access to credit facilities for women entrepreneurs, vocational training for young girls, and improved participation of women in governance and leadership positions.

She explained that women make up a large portion of Nigeria’s informal sector, yet remain among the most vulnerable to poverty and unemployment. “Empowering women is not charity, it is smart economics,” the minister said. “When women thrive, families, communities, and the nation as a whole benefit.”

The government said it will also work closely with state governments, civil society organisations, and private sector partners to ensure sustainability of the programmes. Experts have welcomed the move, noting that greater investment in women’s empowerment could help close Nigeria’s gender inequality gap and accelerate national development.