Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has declared that women are poised to become the engine of national wealth creation— if fully empowered with the right tools, opportunities, and policy support.

Speaking in Abuja at the launch of the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy  (WEIDE) Fund, in collaboration with the World Trade Organization (WTO), the Minister described the initiative as “a bold step toward unlocking the untapped economic potential of Nigerian women.”

“No country can close the economic gap without closing the gender gap,” she emphasized, reiterating the government’s commitment under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

WHY THE WEIDE FUND MATTERS

The WEIDE Fund is more than just a financial mechanism— it’s a strategic push to rewire Nigeria’s economic landscape through gender-inclusive development. The fund aims to:

• Provide accessible financing to women-led businesses
• Enable market access in agriculture, manufacturing, textiles, digital services, and beyond
• Deliver technical support and tools for innovation and scale

These sectors already see strong female participation but suffer from structural underfunding. According to the Minister, while women own 41% of Nigeria’s micro-businesses, they receive less than 20% of available credit.

“Empowering women isn’t just fair— it’s smart economics,” she said. “Closing the gender gap could raise Nigeria’s GDP by up to 23% by 2025.”

GLOBAL INSPIRATION, LOCAL IMPACT

The launch event saw the attendance of WTO Director-General Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, whom the Minister described as “a symbol of possibility” for women across the world.

First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu was also praised for her support through the Renewed Hope Initiative, a platform pushing for inclusive governance and grassroots empowerment.

REAL WOMEN, REAL CHANGE

146 women entrepreneurs have been selected as the first beneficiaries of the WEIDE Fund, spanning rural and urban areas and representing diverse sectors. The selection signals a shift from policy to practical, people-centred action.

The Minister called on both public and private stakeholders to join the movement:

“Let’s write this new chapter together— where the ideas of our women light the way, and their resilience becomes the anthem of our shared prosperity.”

INSIGHTFUL TAKEAWAYS FOR WOMEN GLOBALLY

Advocate for Access: Demand inclusive financing and fair market access in sectors where women are already contributing significantly.

Leverage Policy Shifts: Use government initiatives like WEIDE as entry points to scale your business or innovation.

Build Cross-Sector Coalitions: Collaboration between women entrepreneurs, government bodies, and global institutions like the WTO can drive lasting change.

Celebrate Role Models: Figures like Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala remind us that representation at the top matters— it inspires the next generation of leaders.