Nigeria, Africa Cannot Achieve $29 Trillion Future Without Full Economic Integration of Women – VP Shettima

Vice President Kashim Shettima, has emphasized that women will play a pivotal role in driving Africa’s projected $29 trillion economic revolution. He stressed the irreplaceable role of women as leaders, qua aaaa innovators, and pillars of sustainable development within Nigeria’s evolving economy.

Shettima stated this  in his address at the 2025 Gender Inclusion Conference held at Banquet Hall, Presidential Villa, Abuja with the theme: “Breaking Barriers, Building Resilience for Sustainable Women’s Economic and Financial Inclusion.

According to him, the future of Nigeria, and indeed Africa, cannot be realized without the full integration of women into economic systems. 

“Women are not mere participants; they are the leaders, the innovators, the very foundation upon which our sustainable development rests,” he declared .

The Vice President also launched Project #SheIsIncluded, a groundbreaking initiative aimed at closing gender gaps in finance and economic access. Built on four fundamental pillars—education and financial literacy, maternal healthcare, gender-sensitive policies, and expanded economic opportunities for women—Project #SheIsIncluded promises to reach every corner of Nigeria, spanning all 774 local government areas to ensure no woman is left behind.”This is not about performative gestures to appease progressive voices,” Shettima noted.

He stressed the government’s unwavering commitment to gender inclusion. “It is a core component of our national development agenda. “We are not merely assuring women of their place in our collective future; we are actively creating pathways for them to lead that future,” he added.

“Earlier, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, underscored the significance of the gathering, calling it a vital step in breaking down the barriers to women’s empowerment and economic inclusion. She highlighted gender inclusion as essential not just for poverty alleviation but for driving broader economic growth and fostering leadership opportunities for women in all sectors.

In her remarks  the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, described the conference as an invaluable opportunity to strengthen the frameworks needed to dismantle the systemic barriers hindering women’s full participation in the economy.

Governors from across Nigeria also lent their voices to the cause. Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State aligned the state’s gender and economic policies with the objectives of the conference, emphasizing initiatives aimed at empowering women and vulnerable groups.

Similarly, Governor Umar Namadi of Jigawa State called the empowerment of women an imperative, reaffirming Jigawa’s commitment to being a champion and model of women’s economic empowerment across the nation.

The 2025 Gender Inclusion Conference is historic in the ongoing journey toward a more inclusive, equitable future for Nigerian women, placing them at the center of the country’s socio-economic transformation. As Vice President Shettima aptly put it, the time for talking is over—now is the time for action.

 

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