By Gabriel Ameh
The Honorable Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, fsi, has co-hosted the first-ever Nigeria–China Women’s Infrastructure Investment Forum in Beijing a historic platform aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation on gender-responsive infrastructure, women’s economic empowerment, and inclusive development.
The groundbreaking event was jointly organized by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, the Mutual Commitment Group, the China Chamber of Commerce for the Petroleum Industry (CCCPI), and the Nigeria–China Friendship Association. It brought together top government officials, investors, development partners, and private sector leaders from both countries, marking a new phase of Nigeria–China collaboration focused on women-led and community-driven growth.
Held under the theme, “Investing in Nigeria’s Future: Harnessing Gender-Responsive Infrastructure for Sustainable Growth and Social Resilience,” the forum spotlighted the growing synergy between the two nations in advancing women’s participation in strategic sectors such as energy, agriculture, and trade.
During the event, Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim led Nigeria’s delegation in signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Enhancing the Participation of Women in Nigeria’s Gas Sector. The agreement represents a major step toward expanding women’s access to clean energy, supporting women-led enterprises, and driving the transition to sustainable cooking solutions across Nigeria.
The Minister noted that the new MoU aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, complementing other strategic initiatives such as the Women Agro Value Expansion (WAVE) Programme and the establishment of Safe Spaces and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) nationwide.
“These engagements mark a decisive shift from policy dialogue to measurable action,” she stated. “The Renewed Hope Agenda is clear — empower women, strengthen families, and create shared prosperity. Through partnerships like this, we are moving from advocacy to execution.”
Speaking at the forum, Mr. Liu Zhaolong, Group Managing Director of the Mutual Commitment Group, commended the forum for building unity of purpose among partners.
“Our cooperation means that wherever we work, we will honour our promises. This agreement gives us great hope and confidence for long-term partnership,” he said.
Also speaking, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs and Member representing Kosofe Federal Constituency, lauded the Minister’s visionary leadership and reaffirmed the National Assembly’s commitment to advancing women’s rights and inclusion.
“My presence here today reflects the seamless collaboration between the Executive and Legislative arms of government. The Reserved Seats for Women Bill demonstrates our resolve to strengthen women’s participation in governance and national development,” she affirmed.
Representing the Director-General of the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Mrs. Eugenia Ojeah, Head of Procurement, applauded the Ministry’s leadership, describing affirmative procurement as a powerful tool for promoting equity and inclusive growth.
“This milestone seeks to empower the Nigerian woman to live her best life yet. Affirmative procurement remains a global best practice for building fairer, stronger societies,” she noted.
Ms. Ma Li of the China Chamber of Commerce also commended the Nigerian delegation, emphasizing that the partnership sets a new benchmark for cross-border cooperation in gender-responsive investment and sustainable development.
Nigerian private-sector partners, including Newbury Energy Ltd and Easy Sales Export, shared success stories of empowering women as catalysts of innovation and productivity. Both companies are key partners in implementing the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions (RH-SII 774) the Ministry’s flagship programme targeting 10 million women across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas through initiatives in agriculture, energy, digital inclusion, and family infrastructure.
Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim expressed appreciation to the Government and people of China for their hospitality and partnership, as well as to all co-hosts and stakeholders for their shared commitment to inclusive growth. She reaffirmed that the Ministry will begin immediate implementation of the new MoU, ensuring transparency, accountability, and measurable impact.
“These engagements are not ceremonial; they are operational blueprints for change,” the Minister concluded. “By investing in women, we are investing in the future of Nigeria.”
