Oluremi Tinubu launches INSPIRE Nigeria to advance women’s leadership in civil service

First Lady Oluremi Tinubu, has launched the Inclusive Network for Supporting Progressive Leadership, Innovation, Reform and Equity for Women (INSPIRE Nigeria), calling for reforms that will strengthen mentorship and create equal opportunities for women across the civil service.

The initiative was unveiled on Thursday at the International Civil Service Conference 2026 held under the theme “Reforms, Resilience and Results,” according to a statement signed by Busola Kukoyi, Senior Special Assistant on Media to the First Lady.

Speaking before more than 5,000 delegates from 16 countries, Senator Tinubu said the programme aligns with the Federal Government’s broader commitments under the National Gender Policy 2021–2026 and the Women’s Economic Empowerment Policy 2023–2028.

“This initiative speaks to the kind of civil service we must continue to build — one that supports its workforce, rewards competence, promotes fairness, encourages innovation, creates opportunities for professional growth and truly reflects equity and excellence,” she said.

“A young officer who is properly mentored today may become the permanent secretary, head of service, minister, or a national leader tomorrow,” she said.

“When women are empowered, institutions become stronger, governance improves and citizens benefit from better service delivery,” Tinubu stated, while also urging male civil servants to support inclusive workplaces built on fairness and equal opportunity.

Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Walson-Jack, described INSPIRE Nigeria as a strategic intervention aimed at dismantling structural barriers that hinder women’s advancement in public service.

According to Walson-Jack, the programme will focus on institutional capacity building, mentorship, leadership development and addressing challenges such as weak sponsorship networks and limited career advancement opportunities for women.

Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, said the initiative comes at a critical time and called for concrete implementation of commitments made during the conference.

“This is not a coincidence, it is a consequence of a legacy system that has some structural weaknesses. And it is a gap we can no longer afford,” she said while highlighting the underrepresentation of women in senior government positions.