Cross River State has emerged as one of Nigeria’s leading sub-national economies, advancing women’s economic empowerment, particularly in agriculture and emerging industries, according to the latest State of Women’s Economic Empowerment report released by civic-tech organization BudgIT.
The report, presented on Monday and obtained by MSME Africa, assessed how Nigeria’s 36 states are enabling women to participate and thrive economically across five critical pillars: agriculture, entrepreneurship, labour markets, emerging industries, and education and skills acquisition.
Speaking at the presentation, BudgIT’s Senior Gender Analyst, Damilola Onemano, said Cross River stood out for delivering “strong, measurable outcomes in sectors that are critical to women’s long-term economic inclusion.”
According to the report, Cross River recorded the highest score nationwide in the agriculture pillar, earning 3.5 out of a possible four points. BudgIT attributed this performance to deliberate state policies that integrate women into agricultural production while improving access to land and inputs.
“Cross River’s performance in agriculture reflects deliberate policy choices that prioritise women within the agricultural value chain,” Onemano said.
The state also made notable progress in women’s land ownership, recording rates exceeding 10 per cent but below 15 per cent. BudgIT described this as significant in a country where women’s access to land remains limited, particularly in rural communities where agriculture-based MSMEs dominate local economies.
In the emerging industries pillar covering information and communication technology (ICT), the green economy, creative industries and digital entrepreneurship Cross River ranked among only three states nationwide, alongside Lagos and Kaduna, to achieve a green score. The report noted that no state attained the highest aspirational rating in this category.
“These states are laying the groundwork for women to participate in future-facing industries that will drive economic growth and job creation,” the report stated.
BudgIT also highlighted Cross River’s fiscal commitments to women’s empowerment, listing it among four states alongside Lagos, Gombe and Ebonyi — with specific budgetary allocations supporting women’s access to science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) education and training. The state further featured among a small group with dedicated budget lines for women in creative arts, entertainment and culture.
While Lagos State emerged as the overall top-performing state with a total score of 19 out of 24 points, BudgIT noted that Cross River’s leadership in agriculture and emerging industries positions it as “a model for inclusive and sustainable economic growth at the sub-national level.”
At the national level, the report observed that women’s participation in emerging industries remains the weakest-performing pillar, with most states clustered in lower performance bands. Against this backdrop, BudgIT said Cross River’s progress demonstrates “what is achievable when gender inclusion is embedded in economic planning, budgeting and MSME development strategies.”
The organisation added that although many states now run programmes supporting women entrepreneurs, the reach and impact of national interventions remain limited, stressing the need to bridge gaps between policy design and real-world outcomes for women-led businesses.
BudgIT concluded that sustained, gender-responsive policies particularly those that expand women’s access to land, skills, finance and emerging markets are critical to driving inclusive economic growth, strengthening MSMEs and advancing gender equality across Nigeria.
