I am deeply honoured to deliver this goodwill message at this historic occasion marking a significant step in advancing women’s economic empowerment in Nigeria.
Today, we stand on the strength of visionary leadership. I wish to thank His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, for his unwavering commitment to prioritising women’s issues in national development under the Renewed Hope Agenda. This is not just a political gesture but a nation-building imperative, rooted in the belief that no society can truly prosper when half its population is left behind.
Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has revitalised its mandate to champion the rights, welfare, and advancement of women, children, families, and vulnerable groups across all sectors. Our work is guided by strategic instruments such as the National Gender Policy and the recently adopted National Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Policy, which provide a clear roadmap for inclusive growth and sustainable gender-responsive development.
The launch of the WEIDE Fund is a bold and practical expression of these policies. It aligns perfectly with our mandate to catalyse women’s economic empowerment as a central driver of societal transformation. This event celebrates not just the fund itself but the lives it will impact, the businesses it will grow, and the generations it will inspire.
The WEIDE Fund will operate within a national ecosystem of empowerment. Through the National WEE Policy, we ensure that every intervention is evidence-based, scalable, and sustainable. The policy targets sectors where Nigerian women already show resilience and innovation — from agriculture and textiles to manufacturing, services, and digital entrepreneurship — with the aim of closing gender gaps in productivity, income, and access to finance.
Together, with partners in progress, we will strengthen global trade alliances, expand cultural influence, and contribute to the economic vision set by Mr. President.
The urgency of our task is clear. Women make up over half of Nigeria’s population and own a significant share of micro-businesses, yet their access to credit remains disproportionately low. Bridging this gap is not charity; it is sound economic sense. Closing the gender gap in the labour market has the potential to significantly boost Nigeria’s GDP. No nation can close its economic gap without closing the gender gap.
The WEIDE Fund has the potential to turn these possibilities into tangible results. It will help women scale their enterprises, expand market access, and leverage technology for greater competitiveness. More importantly, it will give them the dignity of self-reliance and the power to contribute meaningfully to national prosperity.
From the bustling adire markets of Ogun and Osun, to the intricate akwete looms of Abia, from the skilled hide-and-skin artisans of Kano to the resilient cotton growers of Katsina and Zamfara, Nigerian women have sustained entire value chains for centuries with little recognition or structural support. The WEIDE Fund will connect these traditional industries to modern markets, positioning our women as global players in both heritage crafts and contemporary innovation.
May this initiative mark the beginning of a new era where women’s economic inclusion is the norm; where the ingenuity of Nigerian women is met with enabling policies, catalytic financing, and open markets; and where future generations inherit a nation that values their contributions as a pillar of its greatness.
Today, we proudly celebrate the phenomenal and exceptional Nigerian women entrepreneurs who are beneficiaries of this fund. They are innovators, job creators, and ambassadors of our nation’s creativity.
I thank Mr. President for placing Nigerian women at the heart of national development. I thank Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, CON, OON, First Lady of the Federal Republic, for her tireless efforts in supporting Nigerian women at home and abroad through the Renewed Hope Initiative. I salute Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for lending her voice and influence to spotlight the economic potential of Nigerian women. My appreciation also goes to my sister, the Honourable Minister of Trade, for her unwavering support.
Let us together write this new chapter, where the hands of our women build the wealth of our nation, their ideas light our path, and their resilience becomes the anthem of our shared prosperity.
ADEOLA KUNLE
