Women Will Lead Africa’s $29trn Economic Ambition, Says VP Shettima

** Launches project #SheIsIncluded to bridge gender gaps in finance, economy

By: Our Reporter

In a move to advance gender equality and women’s economic empowerment, Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared that women will be at the forefront of Africa’s projected $29 trillion economic transformation.

He expressed strong conviction that gender inclusion is not merely a rhetorical commitment but a cornerstone of Nigeria’s national development agenda.

Senator Shettima stated this on Thursday in Abuja when he declared open the 2025 Gender Inclusion Conference and launched Project #SheIsIncluded to bridge gender gaps in finance and the broader economy.

The conference with the theme, “Breaking Barriers, Building Resilience for Sustainable Women’s Economic and Financial Inclusion,” builds on the 2024 Aso Accord for Economic and Financial Inclusion and underscores Nigeria’s commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5: gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.

“We cannot build the Nigeria or Africa we envision without fully integrating women into our economic systems. Women are not just participants in our economy; they are leaders, innovators, and the bedrock of sustainable development,” the Vice President stated.

According to VP Shettima, Project #SheIsIncluded is built on four key pillars of education and financial literacy, maternal healthcare, gender-sensitive policies and programmes, and expanded economic opportunities for women.

He also announced that the initiative will reach all 774 local government areas across Nigeria to ensure that no woman is left behind.

“Our commitment to gender inclusion is not a cosmetic performance to placate the sensibilities of progressives; it is a fundamental pillar of our national development agenda. We are not just assuring the women of Nigeria of their place in our collective journey—we are creating the pathways for them to lead the charge,” VP Shettima said.

He explained that the project “is not just about meeting quotas—it is about unlocking the full potential of our people to drive the broader economic goals of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.”

The Vice President noted that the initiative will be spearheaded by the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion in partnership with the Ministry of Women Affairs.

“To build an inclusive economic ecosystem where all Nigerians, regardless of gender, can contribute and benefit, we must redouble our efforts and align with global best practices. We must be relentless in our pursuit of Sustainable Development Goal 5—achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls,” he affirmed.

He emphasised that the two-day conference is more than just a forum for discussion as it is an avenue for serious reflection and practical strategising on how to build an inclusive nation. He urged both public and private sector stakeholders to take the opportunity to outline actionable steps towards active participation in the gender inclusion agenda.

“I look forward to the recommendations that will emerge from this conference, knowing that they will shape the future of gender inclusion in Nigeria,” VP Shettima added.

In her remarks, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere- Ekun, said the conference was an important milestone in the collective effort to outline ways of breaking barriers to empowering women and promoting inclusion.

She said gender inclusion was a key enabler of sustainable development and central to addressing poverty and fostering economic growth, noting that it should translate into financial independence, wealth creation, and leadership development for women across different sectors.

The CJN assured that the judiciary will work in partnership with stakeholders to ensure that the rights of women to access economic resources and ownership of property, among others, are protected and not subjected to the dictates of individuals or obsolete cultural practices and stereotypes.

In a recorded message to the occasion, the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, Dr Amina Mohammed, said the conference marked a critical step towards Nigeria’s journey to gender inclusion, women empowerment, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

She said gender equality and inclusion is not just an aspiration but a foundation for sustainable development, peace, and development across the world and urged all to invest in women’s empowerment, noting that when women are empowered, communities prosper, economies grow, and societies advance.

Earlier, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Sen. Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, said VP Shettima’s support and push for inclusive growth resonates with everything that he has done since assuming office and is central to the agenda of the National Economic Council (NEC).

Sen. Hadejia said the “She’s Included” Conference is aimed at breaking barriers, challenging stereotypes, and building systems that support women’s empowerment across the country and serving as a model for gender equity in Nigeria, providing a guide to subsequent efforts and interventions aimed at integrating and empowering women across the country and beyond.

On her part, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, said the conference offers a unique opportunity to strengthen strategic frameworks for dismantling all barriers towards the actualisation of all women empowerment programmes and initiatives.

In the same vein, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State said the goals of the conference aligned with the agenda of the State Government on gender and economic inclusion, targeting women and vulnerable groups through the Kaduna State policy on women empowerment.

He highlighted programmes by the state government that have impacted women across agriculture, commerce, and different areas of the MSMEs, noting that the time to remove all impediments to women’s empowerment and inclusion was now and must be supported by all stakeholders.

On his part, Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, said that given the position of women in the society, empowering them is an imperative and a step in the right direction that must be sustained, declaring that Jigawa in realisation of this great potential has placed itself as a champion and model for women empowerment in Nigeria.

He said that girl child education in the state is free at all levels and is tracked across the state, noting that it is a deliberate policy of the State Government to stimulate and improve rural economy.

In the same vein, Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, commended the conveners for the initiative, noting that it is a call to action, noting that his administration is deliberate about pursuing policies on inclusion and uplifting of women with the aim of harnessing their productive potentials.

Giving an overview of the conference, the Technical Adviser to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion, Dr Nurudeen Zauro, said the conference presents a formidable platform for transformation, alignment of goals, sharing of insights, and designing of actionable plans that will break barriers and build resilience that will lead to financial inclusion across the country.

On his part, the Founder/GMD Moniepoint Microfinance Bank, Mr. Tosin Eniolorunda, said inclusion must be at the core of the strategy to build a trillion-naira economy, hence the need to support the “She’sIncluded” initiative.

He said inclusion is not a charity but an economic imperative, noting that empowering women is akin to driving economic growth and described women as economic drivers, assuring that Moneipoint remains committed to the actualisation of the ideals of women’s inclusion initiative.

In his remarks, the Chairman of the Body of Banks’ CEOs and GMD/CEO of UBA Group, Mr Oliver Alawuba commended the Vice President’s Office for convening the first conference on gender inclusion, noting that it is a clear testament of the President Tinubu administration’s commitment to fostering and supporting an inclusive society.

He emphasized the need for all stakeholders to be deliberate about empowering women, restating that it is synonymous with unlocking the full potential of our society and economy, noting that when women succeed, families flourish, and the nation thrives.

Also present at the event were the CEO of the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), Mr Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi; the first ladies of Jigawa, Katsina and the CEOs of financial institutions and other partners.

Women Will Lead Africa’s $29trn Economic Ambition, Says VP Shettima

Zulum Calls for Large-Scale Irrigation Farms to Combat Food Insecurity in Lake Chad Region

By: Our Reporter

Borno State Governor, Professor Babagana Umara Zulum, has called for the establishment of large-scale irrigation farms as key solution to addressing the escalating food insecurity in the Lake Chad Basin region.

The governor made the call during a panel discussion titled “Ensuring Food Security through Building Resilience of Food Systems in the Lake Chad Basin Region” at the ongoing 5th Lake Chad Basin Governors’ Forum in Maiduguri.

Other members of the panel include the Nigerian Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, Country Director of Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) Nigeria, Koffy Dominique Kouacou, while David Stevenson moderated the session.

Governor Zulum emphasized that the Lake Chad Basin region is endowed with vast arable land which, if properly harnessed, can significantly contribute to the region’s food security. He underscored the importance of collaboration between regional governors, critical partners, and the United Nations to establish irrigation farms that can be efficiently managed by agricultural experts.

“We need to invest in irrigation. Irrigated agriculture is the only solution. Unfortunately, our investment in irrigated agriculture is very low. We have vast fertile land. Borno State alone has a total land mass of 72,000 sqkm, out of this, over 70% are arable land,” Zulum stated.

With the region’s growing population, the governor noted that reliance on rainfed and subsistence farming practices is no longer sustainable. He stressed the urgent need for research into climate-resilient crops and farming techniques to ensure food affordability and sufficiency.

“There is increasing population growth while our food production is going down because of overdependence on rainfall. What we need to see through this forum is how the region will establish larger irrigation farms that can be operated either by surface irrigation or drip irrigation systems that will ensure sufficient utilisation of the limited water resources,” he added.

Governor Zulum further highlighted the importance of livestock development, pointing out that the Lake Chad Basin is the leading producer of livestock in the sub-region. He suggested that irrigation schemes could support the growth of animal pastures, thus boosting beef and milk production.

“We have a low-hanging fruit in irrigation. The shores of Lake Chad provide ample water resources and even where surface water is scarce, we can easily drill tube wells. What we need now is the political will from governors, regional partners, the federal government, and the national governments of Chad, Cameroon and Niger Republic to drive this process,” Governor Zulum concluded.

Zulum Calls for Large-Scale Irrigation Farms to Combat Food Insecurity in Lake Chad Region

EU Launches Solar for Health Project to Power Health Facilities in Plateau

By: Michael Mike

The European Union (EU) has launched the Solar for Health Project in Plateau State in order to ensure that healthcare facilities have unhindered access to reliable electricity for medical equipment, providing better healthcare services for local communities in the North Central State.

According to a statement by EU on Thursday, the project which is funded by the EU in partnership with the Plateau State government underscores the importance of clean energy in improving the quality of life, particularly in rural healthcare settings.

The statement revealed that EU has committed 1.7 million euros for overall project implementation by NTU International and 8.7 million euros for infrastructure managed by Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ).

Speaking during the launch of the Solar for Health project, Head of Green and Digital Economy at the EU Delegation in Nigeria and ECOWAS, Inga Stefanowicz, highlighted the EU’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s energy sector through initiatives like Solar for Health.

She stated that the project marks a significant step in the partnership between the EU and Plateau state, aiming to ensure reliable and clean energy in healthcare facilities.

The project, she said, will support a minimum of 25 healthcarefacilities across the state, improving energy access and enhancing overall healthcare services.

The Governor of Plateau state, Caleb Mutfwang, welcomed the initiative, stressing the critical role energy plays in providing quality healthcare. He noted that energy access is crucial for powering life-saving equipment and ensuring effective medical care. “Without energy, our healthcare services are limited,” he said. “This project is a game changer for Plateau State, and we are committed to its success.”

In addition to the launch, Governor Mutfwang inaugurated the Plateau State Solar for Health Project Steering Committee. The committee, tasked with overseeing the implementation of the project, includes representatives from the EU, GIZ, NTU International, and the Plateau State Government. Also, the committee will be chaired by the Managing Director, Plateau State Energy Corporation, Pongzing Gambe, with the Commissioner for Health, Cletus Shurkuk, serving as co-chair.

The Secretary to the Plateau State Government, Samuel Jatau, who was appointed as the chairman of the state steering committee thanked the governor for the honor to serve and lead the committee and pledged that him and all members of the team will deliver to ensure the successful implementation of the project in the state.

The Solar for Health project is part of the broader EU Global Gateway initiative, which aims to promote investment in smart, sustainable infrastructure across the world, including in the areas of energy, health, and education.

EU Launches Solar for Health Project to Power Health Facilities in Plateau