abuja: The Federal Government, in collaboration with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and UN Women, inaugurated the Nigeria Gender Profile and Roadmap to Equality 2030 to address disparities.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, stated that the document provided an evidence-based assessment of gender equality and a framework for achieving national targets by 2030. She highlighted that the profile serves to present an honest picture of the current state of gender equality in Nigeria and outlines practical steps toward achieving national commitments.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasized that gender equality is a strategic investment in national development, noting that advancing equal opportunities for women and girls would bolster families, communities, and the country’s economy. She asserted that gender equality should be seen not as a concession but as a sound investment in the nation’s strength, as equal access to education, finance, leadership, and security for women and girls leads to more stable families, resilient communities, and economic growth.
The roadmap, developed with support from AfDB and UN Women, offers a comprehensive assessment of gender disparities in Nigeria and outlines priority actions for addressing them. The government is already supporting implementation through initiatives like the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions and the Nigeria for Women Programme, which have reached over 560,000 women.
Dr. Abdul Kamara, Acting Vice President, Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery, and Director-General for Nigeria, African Development Bank Group, described gender equality as an economic imperative, stating that Nigeria cannot afford to leave half of its population behind. He explained that persistent inequalities in education, finance, employment, and leadership continue to constrain inclusive growth and sustainable development, limiting Nigeria’s ability to maximize its economic potential. Closing gender gaps could unlock between two and three percent of Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product annually, creating significant opportunities for economic transformation.
Kamara added that the roadmap provides policymakers, investors, and development partners with a practical framework for advancing inclusive and sustainable development, highlighting that the critical challenge now lies in implementation at scale. Empowering women as workers, entrepreneurs, leaders, and innovators would enhance Nigeria’s prosperity and competitiveness in a globalized economy.
UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Beatrice Eyong, represented by Mr. Dama Ghimire, noted that persistent inequalities continue to limit Nigeria’s development potential and economic progress. Despite their significant contributions to economic activities, women remain concentrated in lower-income and informal sectors, and representation in political leadership and decision-making positions is low. Eyong stressed that gender equality is not a standalone agenda but a thread running across economic transformation, democratic governance, human capital development, climate resilience, and sustainable peace.
The roadmap reflects a shared responsibility extending beyond the Ministry of Women Affairs to governments, development institutions, the private sector, and civil society organizations. The inauguration marks the beginning of a new phase focused on implementation, accountability, and measurable results toward achieving gender equality commitments and development objectives.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the roadmap is expected to guide the implementation of gender equality commitments under the Sustainable Development Goals and National Development Plan 2026-2030.