Empowering women central to national development – Minister

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has said empowering women remains central to national development. Addressing graduands at the graduation and exhibition ceremony of the “Seed for Change: Creative Women Residency” in Abuja, the Minister charged Nigerian women to harness creativity as a catalyst for inclusive economic growth. Commending the partnership […]

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has said empowering women remains central to national development.
Addressing graduands at the graduation and exhibition ceremony of the “Seed for Change: Creative Women Residency” in Abuja, the Minister charged Nigerian women to harness creativity as a catalyst for inclusive economic growth.
Commending the partnership behind the initiative, the Minister said, “This collaboration reflects what is possible when government and non-state actors work together with a shared purpose—to empower Nigerian women and unlock their full potential.”
She praised the transformation of the graduands, noting, “What we are witnessing here is the emergence of women who are not only creators but also innovators, entrepreneurs, and change-makers.”
Encouraging sustained impact beyond the programme, the Minister added, “The knowledge and skills you have acquired here are seeds. The true impact will be seen in how you nurture them—how you apply your creativity to solve problems, create opportunities, and inspire others within your communities.”
Reaffirming government commitment, she said, “This initiative aligns strongly with our broader mandate to promote women’s economic empowerment, reduce vulnerability, and advance gender equality in Nigeria.”
The Minister noted, “The Ministry is empowering over 50 million women across the 774 LGAs to become economically empowered and self-reliant to provide the needed support for their children and families.”
Also speaking, Taibat Ajiboye, the founder of Revamp Initiatives, which initiated the programme, disclosed that 50 women graduated at the event.
“We have some people from the IDP camp here, we have some people from different communities, we have some people that are even students from different universities, we have some people that are not even in universities here. And yes, those are our target audience.
“I’m so glad that this aligns so well with what the ministry is doing, scouting for people, scouting for women, scouting for talent, and seeing that nobody is left behind.
“I’ve seen a lot of them in photography classes, videography, and cooking as well. I’ve been eating their meals, and I think the food is here as well,” she said.