The Federal Government has launched the Nigeria Gender Profile and Roadmap to Equality 2030, a strategic framework aimed at addressing gender disparities and accelerating progress toward gender equality across the country.
The initiative, developed in partnership with the African Development Bank (AfDB) and UN Women, was inaugurated on Wednesday by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.
Speaking at the event, the minister described the roadmap as an evidence-based tool that provides a comprehensive assessment of gender equality in Nigeria while outlining practical steps needed to achieve national and international commitments by 2030.
According to her, the document presents an honest picture of the current state of gender equality and serves as a guide for implementing targeted interventions to close existing gaps.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasized that gender equality should be viewed as a strategic investment in national development rather than a social concession.
“When women and girls have equal access to education, finance, leadership opportunities and security, families become stronger, communities more resilient and the economy grows,” she said.
The minister noted that the government has already begun supporting gender-focused initiatives through programmes such as the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions and the Nigeria for Women Programme, which she said have benefited more than 560,000 women nationwide.
Also speaking, Acting Vice President for Regional Development, Integration and Business Delivery and Director-General for Nigeria at the AfDB, Abdul Kamara, described gender equality as an economic necessity.
“Nigeria cannot afford to leave half of its population behind,” Kamara said, noting that persistent inequalities in education, employment, finance and leadership continue to limit inclusive growth and sustainable development.
He added that closing gender gaps could increase Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product by between two and three per cent annually, creating significant opportunities for economic transformation.
“The challenge is no longer about commitments. It is about implementation at scale,” he stated.
Representing the UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Beatrice Eyong, Mr Dama Ghimire said gender equality remains central to economic transformation, democratic governance, human capital development, climate resilience and sustainable peace.
He noted that despite women’s contributions to the economy, many remain concentrated in lower-income and informal sectors, while their representation in leadership and decision-making positions remains limited.
According to him, the roadmap is a shared responsibility that extends beyond the Ministry of Women Affairs to federal and state governments, development partners, the private sector and civil society organisations.
He stressed that the inauguration marks the beginning of a new phase focused on implementation, accountability and measurable results.
The roadmap is expected to guide Nigeria’s efforts toward achieving gender equality targets under the Sustainable Development Goals and the National Development Plan 2026–2030.
