By Blessing Otobong, Abuja
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.
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