The Federal Government has listed several ongoing programmes aimed at empowering women across Nigeria through business support, agriculture, energy access, and financing opportunities. The initiatives were highlighted by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, during activities marking the 2026 International Women’s Day and the pre-Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) briefing in Abuja.
According to the Minister, the programmes are part of the social and economic reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which she said prioritises women’s economic participation, family stability, and national development.
She described the initiatives as practical steps designed to expand opportunities for women across all 774 local government areas in the country.
“Nations rise when vision meets action, when leadership chooses discipline over delay,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim said during the ministerial press briefing.
She added that the government’s focus on women is not just social policy but a critical economic strategy.
“Every dollar invested in women’s economic empowerment generates between seven and twelve dollars in returns,” she noted, citing estimates from the International Finance Corporation on the impact of closing Nigeria’s gender financing gap.
Major empowerment programmes across sectors
At the centre of the initiatives is the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions 774 (RHSII-774), which the government describes as the largest coordinated women empowerment drive in Nigeria.
One of its flagship programmes is EmpowerHer774, which targets women’s livelihoods in all 774 local government areas through business support, training, and access to economic opportunities.
The initiative focuses on helping women start or grow small businesses while also connecting them to financial resources and mentorship programmes.
Another major intervention is the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up Programme implemented in collaboration with the World Bank and state governments.
The programme is expected to reach about 4.5 million women organised into nearly 300,000 collectives across the country.
Officials say the initiative focuses on strengthening women’s financial independence through cooperative groups, business development support, and access to savings and credit systems.
The government is also promoting women’s participation in agriculture through the Women Agro-Value Expansion (WAVE) programme.
The project targets women involved in farming and agricultural value chains by supporting them with training, production tools, market access, and agribusiness opportunities.
Authorities say the programme is intended to help women move beyond subsistence farming into profitable agricultural enterprises.
Expanding energy and mobility opportunities
Beyond agriculture and entrepreneurship, the Federal Government is also introducing programmes to support women in emerging sectors such as energy and mobility.
One such initiative is PowerHer774, which focuses on expanding women’s participation in Nigeria’s energy economy.
Closely linked to it is the Women in Gas (WINGs) programme aimed at promoting clean energy entrepreneurship among women.
The programme encourages women to invest in and manage clean cooking and gas distribution businesses in their communities.
Officials say this initiative is designed to create economic opportunities while also addressing environmental and health challenges associated with traditional cooking fuels.
The government has also introduced Women-on-Wheels, a mobility support programme implemented in partnership with CREDICORP.
The initiative provides transportation assets to women entrepreneurs to support logistics, delivery services, and other mobility-related businesses.
Access to finance and digital support
Financial inclusion remains a major component of the government’s strategy to support women entrepreneurs.
The Federal Government announced a ₦500 billion financing initiative specifically targeted at women-led micro, small, and medium enterprises.
The programme is expected to provide easier access to credit and financial services for female entrepreneurs across different sectors.
The Ministry of Women Affairs also introduced a digital platform known as the Happy Woman App, designed to give women easier access to government programmes, financial resources, and empowerment opportunities.
“These are not promises, they are programmes in motion,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim said while outlining the initiatives.
She noted that the government is also promoting affirmative procurement policies through the Bureau of Public Procurement to increase women’s participation in government contracts and supply chains.
Social protection and support systems
Government officials say women empowerment efforts are also supported by broader social protection policies.
According to the Minister, social protection programmes now reach about 9.4 million households nationwide, with women accounting for nearly 70 percent of beneficiaries.
She explained that the programmes are intended to strengthen families while supporting women’s economic independence.
The government has also strengthened policies addressing gender-based violence and family welfare.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim noted that all 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory have now domesticated the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act.
The Ministry has also introduced new mandates including a Nutrition Department, a revised National Child Protection Policy, and the National Action Plan to End Violence Against Children.
Support from development partners
International organisations and development partners have also expressed support for Nigeria’s women empowerment programmes.
UNFPA Country Representative Muriel Mafico said partnerships remain essential in advancing the country’s gender equality goals.
“Leadership matters, and your presence is testimony to what can be achieved when leadership leads,” she said while addressing stakeholders at the Abuja briefing.
She added that development partners are committed to supporting Nigeria’s women-focused initiatives.
“Partnerships for impact – that’s what we represent, and that’s our pledge to accompany and support your vision,” Mafico stated.
Similarly, UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Beatrice Eyong, emphasised that women’s economic participation directly strengthens communities and national development.
“Empowering women isn’t charity – it’s smart economics. When she gains, Nigeria grows,” she said.
Economic experts have also linked women empowerment to broader economic growth.
Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun, described women as a key part of Nigeria’s human capital development.
“When women are empowered and children are protected, families are supported, productivity increases, communities thrive and the nation grows stronger,” he said.
Through programmes spanning business support, agriculture, energy, digital platforms, and financial access, the Federal Government says it is expanding opportunities for women across Nigeria while positioning them as a driving force for economic growth and national development.
