Founder of the Daurama Foundation, Dr Samira Buhari, has spotlighted Nigeria’s women’s economic empowerment initiatives at the 80th United Nations General Assembly (UNGA80).
Represented by Buhari Salisu Buhari and Dr Souwelimatou Amadou Amani, she participated in a side event hosted by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in New York.
The session with the theme “Scaling Women’s Economic Empowerment: Financing Inclusive Growth for Peace, Development and Human Rights – Lessons from the Nigeria for Women Programme,” coincided with the 30th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action.
The minister of Women’s Affairs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim called for inclusive financing models that reach women across all sectors.
“Economic empowerment for women is not an act of charity. It is a sound investment in Nigeria’s future,” she said. “When we remove barriers for women, we accelerate our nation’s development and honour the commitments made in Beijing thirty years ago.”
Similarly, Samira Buhari Mentorship Programme (SBMP) was presented as a model for equipping young women with digital skills, leadership training, entrepreneurship and communication tools. The programme recently graduated its 2025 cohort, with participants drawn from communities nationwide.
“I am proud of our 2025 mentees, whose dedication proves that targeted investment in women yields lasting transformation. Their success strengthens families, communities and our entire nation,” Buhari noted.
The forum also reviewed lessons from the Nigeria for Women Programme (NFWP), a government-led initiative to expand inclusive financing for women.
The participants stressed the need for stronger collaboration between governments, donors, investors, civil society, and the private sector to expand women’s access to skills, resources, and opportunities, promote growth, and reduce inequality.
