Crunch Times News

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has officially declared 2026 as the “Year of Social Development and Families in Nigeria,” signaling a nationwide push to strengthen women’s empowerment, family welfare, and inclusive growth across all levels of government.

The declaration was made on Thursday during the Presidential launch of the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up Project (NFWP-SU) held at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. 

The President who was represented at the event by Vice President Senator Kashim Shettima stressed that sustainable national development cannot be achieved without placing women at the centre of policy planning and implementation.

“A nation that relegates its women is a nation bound for implosion,” he said. “This administration has placed women at the forefront of decision-making and entrusted them with leadership in causes that redeem our national promise.”

He described Nigerian women as key drivers of family stability, community resilience, and economic productivity, announcing an ambitious target to reach 25 million women through the expanded programme.

The President also urged the World Bank and development partners to deepen financing, technical support, and innovation partnerships to ensure the programme’s success. According to him, digital inclusion is now essential for effective service delivery and national competitiveness.

Tinubu commended the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for integrating technology into social policies and restructuring intervention systems under the Renewed Hope Social Impact Initiative launched last year. 

He further praised state governors and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum for aligning with the federal government’s vision, noting that national transformation requires coordinated efforts.

Earlier, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, said the initiative reflects a new era where women are no longer treated as passive beneficiaries but as central contributors to Nigeria’s economic growth and democratic stability.

She described the scale-up of the Nigeria for Women Programme as one of the most ambitious empowerment efforts in the country’s history. Phase one of the project, she noted, successfully tackled harmful social norms and strengthened women’s socio-economic resilience, demonstrating the transformative impact of targeted support.

The minister also announced the launch of Nigeria’s Third National Action Plan on United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325 on Women, Peace, and Security, placing the country among a select group of nations advancing women’s roles in peacebuilding and governance.

Development partners reaffirmed their support for the initiative.

World Bank Regional Representative for Africa, Robert Chase, said investing in women remains the most impactful strategy for national development.

Similarly, the Director of the Nigeria Country Office of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, Uche Amaonwu, noted that empowering women leads to healthier families, safer communities, and reduced household insecurity.

Other stakeholders, including the Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, pledged inter-ministerial collaboration to enhance women-focused initiatives nationwide.

Representing the Senate President, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Senator Ireti Kingibe, assured that the National Assembly would continue to enact laws to expand women’s access to governance and economic opportunities.

At the state level, the Deputy Governor of Katsina State, Malam Faruk Lawal, reaffirmed governors’ commitment to providing counterpart funding. He disclosed that Katsina has already set aside ₦4 billion in its budget to support the programme’s implementation.

The renewed commitment marks a significant step in the administration’s broader strategy to promote inclusive development, strengthen families, and ensure women play a leading role in shaping Nigeria’s future.

Former Minister of Education Oby Ezekwesili has criticised the Senate over its handling of proposed amendments to the Electoral Act, saying citizens have every reason to feel frustrated.

Her comments follow the Senate’s rejection of a proposal that would have made the electronic transmission of election results mandatory.

During a television interview, Ezekwesili said the current law leaves too much room for discretion by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), creating loopholes that undermine public trust in the electoral process.

She argued that many Nigerians had hoped the review would remove ambiguities and strengthen transparency, but lawmakers chose to maintain the existing provisions instead.

According to her, failing to enforce real-time electronic transmission weakens accountability and damages confidence in elections.

Ezekwesili maintained that meaningful reform is necessary to restore trust and ensure credible outcomes in future polls.

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) says it is working on a clear strategy to finally get the country’s long-idle refineries operating efficiently.

Group Chief Executive Officer Bayo Ojulari explained that three key factors are central to the plan: adequate financing, reliable engineering contractors, and strong operational management.

Speaking at the Nigeria International Energy Summit in Abuja, Ojulari said the company is engaging experienced partners with proven expertise in refining and petrochemical operations to ensure the facilities are sustainable and commercially viable.

He noted that past efforts focused mainly on funding and construction, but the new approach places greater emphasis on long-term operational efficiency and profitability.

Ojulari also pointed to recent progress in tackling crude oil theft, crediting improved collaboration with industry players and enhanced security measures, including technology-driven surveillance and community partnerships.

According to him, these steps have helped stabilise production and strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

Financial analyst Kalu Aja has claimed that the vast majority of Nigerians have less than N500,000 saved in their bank accounts, highlighting the widening gap between economic indicators and everyday reality.

Aja made the comment while reacting to news that Nigerian Treasury Bills recently recorded subscriptions of N4.59 trillion — almost four times the amount initially offered by the Central Bank.

While some government supporters celebrated the strong investor demand, Aja argued that high yields should not be seen as good news. According to him, elevated interest rates often signal rising inflation and greater borrowing risks.

He explained that when government borrowing costs go up, small businesses and consumers also face higher lending rates, which slows economic growth.

Aja added that only wealthy investors with large sums of cash benefit from such returns, stressing that most Nigerians lack the financial capacity to take advantage of high-yield instruments.

Recent data also shows Nigeria’s public debt has climbed above N152 trillion, while the proposed 2026 budget carries a significant deficit, raising concerns about continued borrowing.