Bala Usman advocates stronger policies for women inclusion

The Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, has said Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful development unless government institutions deliberately expand opportunities for women’s inclusion, empowerment and leadership. Speaking at the 2026 Young Women’s Leadership Conference in Abuja, Bala Usman described women’s leadership as “a development necessity,” stressing that national progress […]

The Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, has said Nigeria cannot achieve meaningful development unless government institutions deliberately expand opportunities for women’s inclusion, empowerment and leadership.

Speaking at the 2026 Young Women’s Leadership Conference in Abuja, Bala Usman described women’s leadership as “a development necessity,” stressing that national progress depends on how effectively women are equipped to innovate, influence policy and contribute to governance.

She said the executive, legislature and public institutions must make inclusion a priority through gender-responsive policies, safer schools and communities, stronger protection mechanisms, skills acquisition programmes and enterprise support for women.

“The legislature and public institutions have critical roles in strengthening laws, policies and accountability mechanisms that expand opportunities for women. Legal frameworks are only as powerful as their implementation,” she said.

Bala Usman also criticised discriminatory practices against women in public institutions, citing cases where female public servants were required to obtain spousal consent before accessing official housing and policies denying maternity leave to unmarried women.

“A nation that relies on its women being able to endure more than it enables them to lead is wasting capacity,” she added.

The conference, themed “Innovate, Influence, Impact: Accelerating Young Women’s Roles in National Development,” was organised by the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre in collaboration with government agencies and development partners.

Director-General of the centre, Rinsola Abiola, said over 1,500 young women have benefited from leadership, entrepreneurship and mentorship opportunities since the programme began in 2024.

She disclosed that 20 participants selected after the 2025 edition received business and leadership training alongside grants of N500,000 each to scale their businesses.

Chairman/CEO of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, urged women to prioritise competence, professionalism and active participation in politics and public service.