The Policy Innovation Centre of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG) has convened the Gender and Inclusion Summit 2025 (GS-25), a two-day national dialogue focused on accelerating strategies for building a more inclusive Nigeria.
The summit, held from September 3–4 at the Abuja Continental Hotel, brings together ministers, policymakers, private sector leaders, civil society, and development partners under the theme: “New Voices and New Approaches for Accelerating an Inclusive Society.”
Speaking at the ministerial plenary, the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Hajia Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, FSI, stressed that gender inclusion must be at the centre of Nigeria’s development agenda.
“Nigeria’s ambition of becoming a $1 trillion economy cannot be achieved if women, who make up over 50% of our population, remain on the margins,” she said. “Closing the gender gap in labour participation could add $229 billion to our GDP by 2030. Empowering women is not just the right thing to do—it is an economic necessity.”
She outlined flagship initiatives of her Ministry under the Renewed Hope Agenda, including the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions – 774 (RH-SII774) and the Families First Initiative, which are aimed at boosting women’s participation in agriculture, scaling access to clean cooking solutions, strengthening family resilience, and advancing Nigeria’s emerging National Care Economy Framework.
Commending reforms across Adamawa, Niger, and Rivers States, the Minister noted the growing visibility of women in politics and governance, while also celebrating their successes in sports, business, and finance. She pointed out that women now lead over 40% of Nigeria’s commercial banks—outperforming global averages in corporate leadership.
Reiterating her support for the Special Seats Bill for Women, Hajia Imaan said stronger female representation in the legislature would ensure more resources are directed to education, health, and social protection.
She applauded the summit for becoming a hub of innovation and knowledge exchange: “What you have built is no longer just a national dialogue; it is emerging as Africa’s foremost marketplace of ideas for inclusion. Our shared task is to ensure that the energy and solutions from GS-25 translate into measurable change across government, private sector, and communities.”
The Gender and Inclusion Summit continues with technical sessions and strategic dialogues expected to generate actionable commitments for advancing inclusive growth in Nigeria.
ADEOLA KUNLE
