Vice President Kashim Shettima has declared that women will be at the forefront of Africa’s projected $29 trillion economic transformation.
He made this declaration on Thursday in Abuja during the opening of the 2025 Gender Inclusion Conference and the launch of Project #SheIsIncluded, aimed at bridging gender gaps in finance and the broader economy.
This initiative seeks to advance gender equality and women’s economic empowerment.
Shettima expressed a strong conviction that gender inclusion is not merely a rhetorical commitment but a cornerstone of Nigeria’s national development agenda.
The conference, themed “Breaking Barriers, Building Resilience for Sustainable Women’s Economic and Financial Inclusion,” builds on the 2024 Aso Accord for Economic and Financial Inclusion and underscores Nigeria’s commitment to achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5: gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls.
“We cannot build the Nigeria or Africa we envision without fully integrating women into our economic systems. Women are not just participants in our economy; they are leaders, innovators, and the bedrock of sustainable development,” the Vice President stated.
According to Shettima, Project #SheIsIncluded is based on four key pillars: education and financial literacy, maternal healthcare, gender-sensitive policies and programmes, and expanded economic opportunities for women.
He also announced that the initiative will reach all 774 local government areas across Nigeria to ensure that no woman is left behind.
“Our commitment to gender inclusion is not a cosmetic performance to placate progressives; it is a fundamental pillar of our national development agenda. We are not just assuring the women of Nigeria of their place in our collective journey—we are creating pathways for them to lead the charge,” Shettima said.
He explained that the project “is not just about meeting quotas, it is about unlocking the full potential of our people to drive the broader economic goals of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.”
The Vice President noted that the initiative will be spearheaded by the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion, in partnership with the Ministry of Women Affairs.
“To build an inclusive economic ecosystem where all Nigerians, regardless of gender, can contribute and benefit, we must redouble our efforts and align with global best practices. We must be relentless in our pursuit of Sustainable Development Goal 5—achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls,” he affirmed.
He emphasized that the two-day conference is not just a forum for discussion but an avenue for serious reflection and practical strategizing on how to build an inclusive nation. He urged both public and private sector stakeholders to use the opportunity to outline actionable steps toward active participation in the gender inclusion agenda.
“I look forward to the recommendations that will emerge from this conference, knowing they will shape the future of gender inclusion in Nigeria,” VP Shettima added.
In her remarks, the Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, described the conference as an important milestone in the collective effort to break barriers to empowering women and promoting inclusion.
She said gender inclusion is a key enabler of sustainable development and central to addressing poverty and fostering economic growth. She emphasized that it should translate into financial independence, wealth creation, and leadership development for women across various sectors.
The CJN assured that the judiciary will work in partnership with stakeholders to ensure that women’s rights to access economic resources and property ownership, among others, are protected and not subject to the dictates of individuals or outdated cultural practices and stereotypes.
In a recorded message, the Deputy Secretary-General of the United Nations, Dr. Amina Mohammed, said the conference marked a critical step towards Nigeria’s journey to gender inclusion, women’s empowerment, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
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She stated that gender equality and inclusion are not just aspirations but foundations for sustainable development, peace, and progress worldwide. She urged all to invest in women’s empowerment, noting that when women are empowered, communities prosper, economies grow, and societies advance.
Earlier, the Deputy Chief of Staff to the President (Office of the Vice President), Sen. Ibrahim Hassan Hadejia, stated that VP Shettima’s support for inclusive growth aligns with everything he has done since assuming office and is central to the agenda of the National Economic Council (NEC).
Hadejia said the “She’s Included” Conference aims to break barriers, challenge stereotypes, and build systems that support women’s empowerment nationwide, serving as a model for gender equity in Nigeria and providing a guide for future efforts to integrate and empower women.
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, said the conference offers a unique opportunity to strengthen strategic frameworks for dismantling barriers to the realization of all women’s empowerment programs and initiatives.
Similarly, Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State stated that the goals of the conference align with his state government’s gender and economic inclusion agenda, targeting women and vulnerable groups through the Kaduna State policy on women empowerment.
He highlighted state government programs impacting women in agriculture, commerce, and various MSME sectors, stressing that the time to remove all barriers to women’s empowerment and inclusion is now and must be supported by all stakeholders.
Jigawa State Governor, Umar Namadi, affirmed that empowering women is crucial for societal progress and a step in the right direction that must be sustained. He declared that Jigawa has positioned itself as a champion and model for women’s empowerment in Nigeria.
He noted that girl-child education in the state is free at all levels and closely monitored, emphasizing that this policy aims to stimulate and improve the rural economy.
Edo State Governor, Monday Okpebholo, commended the initiative, describing it as a call to action. He noted that his administration is committed to policies promoting inclusion and empowering women to harness their full productive potential.
Giving an overview of the conference, the Technical Adviser to the President on Economic and Financial Inclusion, Dr. Nurudeen Zauro, said the conference presents a strong platform for transformation, alignment of goals, sharing insights, and designing actionable plans to break barriers and build resilience, leading to financial inclusion nationwide.
Founder and GMD of Moniepoint Microfinance Bank, Mr. Tosin Eniolorunda, stressed that inclusion must be central to the strategy for building a trillion-naira economy, and therefore the “She’s Included” initiative must be supported.
He stated that inclusion is not a charity but an economic imperative, noting that empowering women drives economic growth. He assured that Moniepoint remains committed to realizing the ideals of women’s inclusion.
In his remarks, the Chairman of the Body of Banks’ CEOs and GMD/CEO of UBA Group, Mr. Oliver Alawuba, commended the Vice President’s Office for organising the first conference on gender inclusion, calling it a testament to President Tinubu’s commitment to fostering an inclusive society.
He emphasized the need for all stakeholders to actively empower women, noting that doing so unlocks the full potential of society and the economy, and that when women succeed, families thrive, and the nation prospers.