Tinubu aims to empower women billionaires in $1tn economy push – Minister

Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Nigeria's Hon. Minister for Women Affairs

Tinubu’s Vision: Empowering Women Billionaires in Nigeria’s $1 Trillion Economy Drive

In a bold declaration of intent, President Bola Tinubu’s administration has unveiled a sweeping vision to transform Nigeria’s economic landscape by empowering women to become billionaire entrepreneurs and farmers.

This initiative is a cornerstone of the president’s ambitious plan to grow Nigeria’s GDP from its current estimate of $500 billion to a staggering $1 trillion within a few years.

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, articulated this vision during a working visit to the Safe Centre and Women Development Centre in Asero, Abeokuta. She emphasized that Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda places women’s empowerment at its heart, aiming to create a supportive ecosystem for female entrepreneurs, professionals, and agricultural leaders. 

According to the minister, this is not about handouts but about building capacity and unlocking the full economic potential of Nigerian women.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim praised the president’s “unprecedented commitment” to women’s development, noting that budgetary allocations to her ministry have seen consistent increases under Tinubu’s leadership. She described this moment as “women o’clock,” a time when Nigerian women are poised to rise as economic powerhouses. 

The minister also called on women to intensify efforts against human trafficking, which she described as a scourge that continues to lure young girls abroad under false pretenses. She urged communities to protect and educate their daughters, stressing that opportunities abound within Nigeria for them to thrive.

During her visit, the minister commended the Ogun State Government for its investments in Sexual Assault Referral Centres and Women Development Centres across the state. These facilities, she noted, are becoming models for other regions to emulate. She also donated ₦2 million and bags of rice to support ongoing initiatives aimed at improving women’s welfare.

Mrs. Adijat Adeleye, Ogun State’s Commissioner for Women Affairs, highlighted the strategic co-location of referral centres with development hubs, ensuring that survivors of gender-based violence receive both healing and vocational training. The goal, she said, is to restore dignity and foster financial independence.

Mrs. Bamidele Abiodun, wife of Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun, expressed gratitude for the minister’s visit and reaffirmed the state’s support for President Tinubu and First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu’s efforts to uplift women and strengthen families.

As Nigeria charts its course toward a trillion-dollar economy, the administration’s focus on women’s empowerment signals a transformative shift, one that envisions women not just as participants, but as leaders and billionaires in the nation’s economic renaissance.