Tinubu pledges commitment to women’s empowerment at launch of ‘Empower-Her’ initiative

By Kunle Sanni

President Bola Tinubu has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to advancing women’s empowerment and gender equality in Nigeria.

Speaking at the launch of the Ministry of Women Affairs’ “Empower-Her: Nigeria for Women” initiative, Tinubu highlighted the government’s focus on supporting women across various sectors, including agriculture, health, and justice.

Represented at the event by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, the president underscored the significance of the initiative, which aims to create opportunities for women to fulfill their potential.

“As the President of Nigeria, I am committed to advancing the cause of women’s empowerment and gender equality in our nation,” he stated. Tinubu recalled the influence of his mother, a market woman, in shaping his perspective on the importance of empowering women.

The president called for collaboration between the government and the private sector to support the Empower-Her program, which seeks to address the challenges women face in Nigeria. He particularly emphasized the critical role women play in agriculture, noting that they constitute more than 70% of the sector’s workforce.

Tinubu advocated for greater investment in agricultural training, access to land, and financial resources for women farmers to boost productivity, improve livelihoods, and enhance the country’s food security.

In addition to agriculture, the president highlighted the need to address health disparities affecting women and girls, stressing the importance of improving access to quality healthcare, education, and economic opportunities.

He further emphasized the necessity of promoting gender-sensitive policies, strengthening institutions, and supporting women’s organizations in rural areas to ensure equal access to justice and protection from violence and discrimination.

The Empower-Her program aims to foster an enabling environment for women in Nigeria, enhancing their contribution to the nation’s development and promoting gender equality across all sectors.

“We recognize the challenges women face with limited access to education, healthcare, gender-based violence, and economic disparity. It is imperative for us as a nation to work together to drive development and create opportunities for women to thrive and succeed.

“Empowering women in agriculture must prioritize investment in agricultural training, access to land, and financial services for women farmers. This will enable women to increase their yield, improve their livelihood, and contribute to Nigeria’s food security. By doing so, we will unlock their full potential to drive economic growth.

“We must also address the health disparities that disproportionately affect women and girls. By increasing access to quality healthcare, education, and economic opportunities, we can empower them to take control of their health and well-being.

“In our quest for justice and sustainability, we must ensure women have access to justice and protection from all forms of violence and discrimination. This requires strengthening our institutions, promoting gender-sensitive policies, and supporting women’s rural organizations.

“This Empower-Her initiative solidly deepens the vision we have for our country. We must empower women, not just for their sake, but for the sake of our entire nation. Empowered families lead to viable communities.

“I call on both the government and the private sector to join hands in supporting and promoting the Empower-Her initiative, which has created an enabling environment for every woman in Nigeria to fulfill her potential and contribute meaningfully to society.”