Governors Unveil New Joint Model For Women’s Empowerment

The Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) has unveiled a new joint action model aimed at accelerating women’s economic empowerment and strengthening gender inclusion across all states, marking what leaders described as a decisive national shift toward coordinated reforms for women and girls.

The initiative was announced at the inauguration of the maiden Community of Practice (COP) for Commissioners of Women Affairs, where the NGF Chairman and Governor of Kwara State, Alhaji AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, said the platform signals a new era of collaboration and institutional strengthening at the subnational level.

Describing the gathering as a milestone in Nigeria’s gender reform landscape, the chairman said the COP is designed to unify state-level strategies and embed women’s empowerment more firmly into governance systems. “Today we unite to further the cause of gender equality and reinforce the institutional frameworks that support women’s empowerment throughout Nigeria,” he said.

In a statement by Yunusa Tanko, Director, Media & Strategic Communications, NGF, and Abdullahi AbdulRazaq, the NGF’s Director-General, the establishment of a new Gender Affairs Department within the NGF Secretariat was announced, along with the unveiling of the Forum’s Gender Equality and Women’s Economic Empowerment Strategic Plan 2025–2029.

He stated that the plan aligns with the National Gender Policy, the National Women’s Empowerment Policy, and the Sustainable Development Goals, providing a roadmap for integrating gender perspectives into budgeting, governance, and legal reforms.

He highlighted the expansion of the Nigeria for Women Programme, noting that the initiative—initially piloted in six states—now operates in 31 states following strong adoption by state governments.

He also commended Kaduna, Kwara, and Lagos for leading the domestication of the Women’s Economic Empowerment Policy, adding that all other states are on course to follow suit.

Calling the new COP a vehicle for nationwide progress, AbdulRazaq said the model would strengthen collective action on political participation, economic inclusion, the prevention of gender-based violence, and access to essential services.

“This collaborative platform is designed to empower Commissioners, gender advocates, and technical experts to join forces in addressing challenges, sharing best practices, and driving accelerated actions for women’s rights,” he said.

Declaring the platform open, the NGF Director General, Dr Abdulateef Shittu, reaffirmed the Forum’s commitment to gender equity as a key driver of sustainable development.
He said the COP would promote shared learning, align state strategies, and foster accountability.

“Sustainable development is impossible when half of the population is left behind, and empowering women creates a multiplier effect that strengthens households, communities, and state economies,” he noted.

Dr Shittu emphasised that the COP serves as a long-term mechanism for strengthening state capacity and improving gender outcomes, acknowledging the support of development partners, including the Gates Foundation.

Delivering the keynote address, the Dean of Commissioners of Women Affairs and Cross River State Commissioner, Honourable Edema Irom, called the initiative “historic and timely.” She outlined five priority areas that the commissioners will champion, including the full domestication of the national WEE policy, improved coordination with partners, increased women’s representation in leadership, the expansion of data-driven programmes, and the use of the COP for peer learning and harmonisation of state efforts.

Additionally, the NGF Director of Gender Affairs, Barrister Hauwa Haliru, described the platform as a national ecosystem for promoting and strengthening gender equality.

She said it would drive policy coherence, facilitate collaborative solutions, and enable commissioners to advocate as a unified voice on subnational gender priorities.

Haliru outlined the key activities planned under the platform, including state-to-state mentoring, quarterly review meetings, knowledge-sharing sessions, and rapid-response task teams to address emerging policy needs.

The NGF said the joint model reinforces its resolve that no woman or girl will be left behind, pledging continued collaboration with states and partners to drive measurable progress on gender reform nationwide.