By Favour Chioma
Nigeria has reaffirmed its leadership role in the global fight for gender equality, with the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, delivering a powerful address at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York.
Speaking at the High-Level Meeting to mark the 30th Anniversary of the Fourth World Conference on Women, the Minister restated Nigeria’s commitment to the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, which she described as a “transformative vision” to dismantle discrimination and unlock the full potential of women and girls.
In a statement issued by her Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Jonathan Eze, the Minister highlighted Nigeria’s notable progress: higher school enrolment for girls, stronger laws against gender-based violence, growing female representation in leadership, and expanded opportunities for women in business, science, and governance.
Yet, she was candid about persistent challenges, citing systemic inequalities, climate change, conflict, and the widening digital divide as obstacles that continue to limit women’s advancement worldwide.
Outlining Nigeria’s renewed commitments, Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasized education as “the most powerful investment” for breaking cycles of poverty. She spotlighted the Renewed Hope Women Agro-Value Expansion Programme, designed to empower 10 million women across the agricultural value chain, as a key intervention under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
The Minister further stressed Nigeria’s zero-tolerance stance on gender-based violence and highlighted deliberate policies including Special Reserved Seats for women to expand female representation in governance and decision-making.
Quoting her address, she declared:
“Nations that empower women are more prosperous, more peaceful, and more resilient. Gender equality is not just a human right; it is an economic imperative, a social necessity, and the very foundation of sustainable development and peace.”
Calling on the global community to match words with action, she urged countries to accelerate efforts toward achieving the 2030 Sustainable Development Goals, noting that progress must not stall:
“Let this 80th General Assembly be remembered for its actions for turning pledges into progress and rhetoric into results.”
With her vision and bold commitments, Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim has once again positioned Nigeria at the heart of global conversations on women’s rights and empowerment.
