The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, has called for the aligning of industrial growth with inclusive development, noting that empowering women economically remains central to solving broader national challenges.
In a statement made available to the media, the Minister made the call while receiving the Managing Director of the (OGFZA), Bamanga Usman Jada, who paid a courtesy visit on her office in Abuja. the visit aimed at exploring collaboration on clean cooking initiatives and green energy transition.
She noted that sustainable national progress cannot be achieved without deliberately placing financial resources, skills and opportunities in the hands of women, describing economic empowerment as a strategic solution to insecurity, poverty and social dislocation.
According to her, the proposed partnership comes at a critical time when the Federal Government, under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President , is prioritising inclusive economic reforms and energy transition policies that directly impact vulnerable populations, especially women.
She noted that empowering women at the grassroots level would address up to 90 per cent of societal challenges, arguing that when women are financially stable, families are strengthened and social vices are curtailed before escalating into national security concerns.
Beyond financial inclusion, the Minister highlighted the importance of leveraging OGFZA’s special economic zone model, which has attracted over $50 billion in investments, as a platform for technology transfer, job creation and human capital development. She described the Authority’s model as globally recognised and instrumental in accelerating industrial growth.
“What is most commendable is that this model does not only attract billions of dollars, it transfers technology, builds infrastructure, protects jobs and develops local capacity which are critical elements for sustainable national development,” she said.
Suleiman-Ibrahim further explained that her Ministry is implementing a comprehensive clean energy transition programme in line with presidential directives, with particular focus on clean cooking solutions to reduce health risks and environmental degradation affecting women.
In his remarks, Jada stated that OGFZA has positioned Nigeria as a competitive investment destination within the oil and gas sector, noting that many roles previously handled by expatriates are now managed by Nigerians due to deliberate capacity building within the free zones.
He also emphasised the Authority’s commitment to inclusivity, revealing that women constitute a significant percentage of the workforce in key facilities within the zones. According to him, investors are required to submit corporate social responsibility frameworks that incorporate women and youth development initiatives.
The meeting signals a strategic shift toward integrating gender inclusion into industrial expansion and energy transition efforts, reinforcing the government’s broader objective of linking economic growth with social impact.
