I am pleased to welcome you to this important National GEWE Coordination Mechanism and Institutional Strengthening Meeting, convened by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in collaboration with UN Women. This gathering comes at a critical time, bringing together key stakeholders nationwide to deepen institutional coordination, improve accountability, and drive transformative action towards gender equality and sustainable development.
Our shared objective is to build a unified, results-driven national GEWE architecture. This calls for stronger collaboration between Federal and State Ministries of Women Affairs and their integration with broader government systems. These Ministries must be recognized and empowered as catalysts for economic growth, national stability, and social justice.
I urge all State Commissioners and Permanent Secretaries to proactively forge inter-ministerial and inter-agency partnerships. Women’s Affairs should no longer be seen as peripheral. We must be visible and active participants in national development planning and execution.
Let us reflect on the urgent realities we face:
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Women and girls form nearly half of Nigeria’s population.
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A significant percentage of women aged fifteen and above have not completed secondary education.
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Maternal mortality remains alarmingly high.
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Many children under five suffer from malnutrition.
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Tens of thousands of women die each year from indoor air pollution due to unsafe cooking methods.
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In the creative industry, women occupy a minority of key roles.
These statistics are more than numbers—they are calls to action.
As we mark three decades since the creation of the Federal and State Ministries of Women Affairs, it is both a time of celebration and reflection. We must assess our legacy and move from programme-based interventions to system-wide, sustainable impacts.
As part of our institutional strengthening efforts, I am pleased to announce the distribution of ICT equipment to all State Ministries of Women Affairs, facilitated by UN Women under the leadership of Beatrice Eyong. These are essential tools for data management, monitoring and evaluation, coordination, and digital reporting. I urge their effective and accountable use.
In alignment with the National Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Policy, all states are encouraged to domesticate and localize WEE strategies, particularly at the local government level. This will ensure meaningful and widespread impact.
Following Nigeria’s participation at the sixty-ninth session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW), states are encouraged to hold debriefing sessions and incorporate key learnings into their plans. Insights on financing, care economy, digital inclusion, and institutional accountability must not remain abroad—they should shape our domestic policies and practices.
We are also promoting women’s inclusion in trade through engagement with the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA). Our goal is to connect women-led cooperatives, SMEs, and agribusinesses with continental trade opportunities, supported by the forthcoming WAVE Renewed Hope Social Impact Programme. Each state will identify a priority commodity for women’s agricultural advancement, in collaboration with the Ministry of Budget and National Planning.
Political participation among women remains very low. There are only a handful of women among Senators, Members of the House of Representatives, and State Assembly Members. This underscores the urgent need to pass the Special Seats for Women Bill. I call on all Commissioners to advocate for this—engage your Governors, House Speakers, CSOs, and grassroots networks.
I am pleased to announce a national dialogue on women’s political representation scheduled to hold during the House of Representatives Open Week. The Ministry will mobilize participation from Commissioners, women leaders, and other stakeholders.
I commend the states that have joined the CEDAW Cities Initiative, launched at CSW69 in New York. States like Edo, FCT, Kebbi, Imo, Lagos, Nasarawa, and Zamfara have taken bold steps. Being a CEDAW City is a serious commitment requiring inclusive and measurable local action.
The next National Council on Women Affairs will be hosted in Edo State, and will expand its focus to include Children and Family Cohesion, demonstrating our holistic approach to social protection.
Nigeria continues to make progress in women’s representation:
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In the Judiciary, women now make up a significant portion of judicial officers, surpassing the global average.
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In the Public Service, women have held top roles including Head of Civil Service and Accountant-General.
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In the financial sector, women occupy a notable share of board and executive roles.
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In the Military, Nigerian women have exceeded UN benchmarks in peacekeeping deployments.
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In paramilitary services, the proportion of female recruits has increased and is now a standardized quota.
In recognition of these advancements, we are launching a National Reward and Recognition Framework to celebrate champions of gender inclusion and women’s empowerment. Your efforts have not gone unnoticed, and we will honour you.
We acknowledge the unwavering support of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, whose Renewed Hope Agenda prioritizes women's empowerment. We also appreciate Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, for her inspiring leadership of the Renewed Hope Initiative, and thank the National Assembly, State Governors, First Ladies, and State Houses of Assembly for their continued support.
Looking forward, let us transform this Coordination Mechanism into a robust Coalition for Action—focused, responsive, and results-oriented.
ADEOLA KUNLE
