The Federal Government has emphasised the need for women to take a leading role in shaping Nigeria’s next phase of economic growth, urging stronger female participation in trade, industry and investment.
This call was made by the Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, during a special programme organised by the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment in Abuja to commemorate the 2026 International Women’s Day.
Speaking at the event, Oduwole underscored the importance of equipping women with the knowledge, skills and resources needed to take full advantage of government policies and emerging economic opportunities.
She urged women across the ministry and beyond to actively explore prospects in agribusiness, manufacturing and export trade, while leveraging available grants, funding programmes and cooperative initiatives designed to support enterprise growth.
“The future of Nigeria’s economy will be shaped by how well we empower women to participate fully in trade, industry and investment,” the minister said.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Nura Abba Rimi, acknowledged progress made in promoting gender inclusion within the ministry, noting that despite funding constraints, the leadership remains committed to sustaining programmes that support women.
“Even with the funding challenges we face, our commitment to ensuring that women-focused programmes remain a priority in this ministry has not wavered,” he said.
Earlier in her presentation, the Head of the Gender Unit, Hauwa Usman Sarki, explained that the programme was designed to expose women staff to strategic policies, mentorship opportunities and practical pathways for entrepreneurship and innovation within the industry, trade and investment ecosystem.
She noted that the initiative aims to equip women with practical knowledge, mentorship and the confidence needed to translate policy opportunities into real economic empowerment.
Also speaking at the event, the Director of the Industrial Inspectorate Department highlighted opportunities available to women entrepreneurs through the African Continental Free Trade Area, which provides access to a market of more than 1.3 billion people across Africa.
She further drew attention to initiatives such as the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy programme, which supports women-owned businesses through digital trade platforms.
Other speakers at the programme encouraged women to embrace continuous learning, digital innovation and diversified income streams as key strategies for remaining competitive in an evolving global economy.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to supporting women through policies, training programmes and capacity-building initiatives aimed at strengthening their participation in trade, industry and investment across Nigeria.
