The Federal Government of Nigeria has set an ambitious target to empower 10 million women by 2027 as part of its broader plan to transform the country into a $1 trillion economy by 2030.
Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, unveiled the initiative during an International Women’s Day event themed “Accelerate Action—Empowering Women Through Financial Literacy & Inclusion.” She emphasized the need for urgent action to improve women’s financial literacy and access to economic opportunities, stating that informed financial decisions could help women secure their future and drive societal change.
She identified major obstacles hindering women’s economic participation, including limited access to credit, exclusion from formal financial systems, and vulnerability to fraudulent schemes. Given that women own about 40% of Nigeria’s small businesses, she called for strategic interventions to address these barriers.
At the event, Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Emomotimi Agama, highlighted the crucial role women play in the capital market and wealth distribution. He stressed the need to educate and integrate women into financial systems to prevent them from falling victim to Ponzi schemes and other financial traps. Agama pledged SEC’s support in advancing financial literacy programs nationwide.
Through this initiative, the government aims to equip millions of women with the financial knowledge and tools needed to play a key role in Nigeria’s economic transformation.
