By Chidi Ugwu
– Renewed Hope Agenda drives inclusive participation and clean energy transformation
Abuja, Nigeria – October 10, 2025:
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to breaking barriers that limit women’s participation in Nigeria’s gas sector through the Women in Nigeria’s Gas Sector (WINGS) Strategy a flagship component of the PowerHer774 pillar under the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions (RH-SII774), spearheaded by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.
At a high-level Stakeholders’ Co-Creation Workshop held in Abuja, government officials, legislators, industry leaders, and development partners pledged unified action to promote women’s economic empowerment and inclusion across the gas value chain.
The event was co-hosted by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources (Gas), the Federal Ministry of Regional Development, the Office of the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, and the Association of Women in LPG.
Driving Women’s Inclusion in Energy
Delivering the keynote address titled “Addressing Energy Poverty through the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions – 774,” the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, FSI, said the initiative is a bold step to reposition women as key actors in the nation’s energy transformation agenda.
“Our goal is to move women from passive energy users to active stakeholders owning micro-plants, managing distribution networks, and driving Nigeria’s clean cooking revolution,” she stated.
“Energy access is not just about power; it’s about equity, opportunity, and dignity. When a woman gains access to clean energy, she gains time, health, income, and a voice in the economy.”
She explained that WINGS consolidates the Ministry’s earlier interventions including LPG cylinder distribution and the establishment of the Nigerian Women LPG Steering Committee into a five-pillar framework promoting women’s leadership and enterprise in the gas sector.
The pillars include:
- Financial Access and Investment
- Enterprise and Technology Integration
- Workforce Development
- Community Engagement
- Policy Reform and Advocacy
These, she said, are designed to drive clean energy adoption, expand local economies, and ensure women benefit equitably from Nigeria’s just energy transition.
Collaboration Across Ministries
Commending the Women Affairs Ministry for the initiative, the Honourable Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Rt. Hon. Ekperikpe Ekpo, Ph.D, noted that while women dominate domestic energy consumption, their presence in the industrial gas value chain remains limited.
“Women are the backbone of domestic energy use, yet they remain underrepresented as entrepreneurs, innovators, and asset owners,” he observed.
“Enhancing women’s participation is not just social policy; it is a strategic economic imperative for building a resilient and inclusive energy economy.”
He reaffirmed the readiness of his Ministry to align WINGS with the Nigeria Decade of Gas (2021–2030), ensuring that women become architects — not just beneficiaries — of the country’s clean energy future.
Similarly, the Minister of State for Regional Development, Hon. Uba Maigari Ahmadu, pledged institutional backing for WINGS, announcing plans to integrate the initiative into regional development frameworks.
“I will be directing the North-East Development Agency and other regional bodies to immediately incorporate WINGS into their action plans,” he declared.
“Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigerian women will rise to new heights of innovation and enterprise.”
Private Sector and Partners Endorse WINGS
Other stakeholders also voiced strong support for the WINGS framework as a sustainable model for promoting gender equity and innovation in the energy space.
The National Coordinator of the Decade of Gas, Mr. Ed Ubong, emphasized the alignment of WINGS with the National Gas and LPG Development Plans, noting that Nigeria’s choice of LPG as a transition fuel provides vast opportunities for women entrepreneurs.
Likewise, Ms. Joy Shaiyen, National Coordinator of the Association of Women in LPG, highlighted that the strategy provides “a clear, actionable path for women to succeed and scale up within the sector.”
The workshop, supported by private sector partners such as Newbury Energy, Arcus Energy, Genergo Energy, and Mutual Commitment Company, concluded with a joint declaration from participants to strengthen women’s inclusion in policy formulation, enterprise development, and workforce training.
Institutional Commitment and Next Steps
In her closing remarks, Dr. Maryam Ismaila Keshinro, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, reaffirmed the Ministry’s role as custodian of all national policies advancing women’s empowerment. She called on stakeholders to sustain the momentum and collaborate with the Ministry in delivering tangible outcomes for women across the country.
“The Ministry will continue to ensure the effective implementation of gender-responsive energy policies,” she said. “Together, we can translate this vision into measurable impact.”
Reiterating her Ministry’s commitment, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim concluded:
“The Renewed Hope Agenda is not about promises; it is about people, progress, and possibility lighting homes, energizing businesses, and renewing hope one community at a time. Our vision is to see women billionaire entrepreneurs emerging in massive numbers across the gas sector and beyond.”
