President Tinubu Expands Women’s Economic Programme to 25 Million Nigerians

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has announced the expansion of the Nigeria for Women Programme (NFWP) to reach 25 million beneficiaries nationwide, reinforcing his administration’s commitment to women’s economic inclusion and national development.

The programme, which piloted in six states and reached over one million women, now features the Happy Woman App, a secure digital platform connecting women to finance, skills, markets, essential services, and government support.

Speaking at the Presidential Launch of the programme scale-up at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing the President, emphasized that sustainable national growth is impossible without empowering women. “A nation that relegates its women is a nation bound for implosion,” the President said, highlighting the central role of women in national planning, family stability, and community resilience.

President Tinubu urged the World Bank to enhance technical and financial support for the programme, stressing that digital inclusion is foundational to effective service delivery and national competitiveness. He also designated 2026 as the “Year of Social Development and Families in Nigeria,” calling for coordinated action across all levels of government.

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Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, described the scale-up as one of the most ambitious social and economic empowerment projects in Nigeria’s history. She noted that phase one of the programme successfully addressed harmful social norms and strengthened women’s socio-economic resilience.

The launch also featured the unveiling of Nigeria’s Third National Action Plan on UN Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security, positioning the country among a select group of nations to reach this milestone.

International partners reaffirmed their support for the programme. World Bank Regional Representative for Africa, Robert Chase, emphasized that investing in women is the most impactful investment a nation can make, while Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Director Uche Amaonwu linked women’s empowerment to healthier families and safer communities.

Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, pledged his ministry’s collaboration on women-focused initiatives, while Senate representatives and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum reaffirmed their commitment to supporting and funding the programme at both federal and state levels. Katsina State, a participating state, has already earmarked ₦4 billion in its budget to support the initiative.

The scale-up of the Nigerian for Women Programme underscores the Federal Government’s strategic focus on women as central drivers of economic growth, social cohesion, and national transformation.