Women Minister Backs Drive To Upscale Nigerian Businesses

Minister of Women Affairs, Hajya Iman Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has called for a renewed commitment to empowering Nigerian women through structured business practices, innovation, and strategic investment in the hospitality and event management sector, describing it as a critical engine for economic diversification and inclusive growth.

Speaking at the Africa Hospitality and Event Management Continental (AHEM–C) Business Summit and Masterclass in Abuja, the Minister said empowering women within high-growth sectors like hospitality is not just an economic imperative, but a national development strategy aligned with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

“The hospitality and event sector is one of the most human expressions of who we are as Nigerians—warm, creative, resilient, and endlessly welcoming,” she stated. “Once fully organised with structure, strategy, and innovation, it becomes a powerful engine of job creation and economic diversification, proving that our national spirit is indeed a blueprint for inclusive prosperity.”

Sulaiman-Ibrahim underscored that the ministry’s mandate ensures Nigeria’s economic transformation includes “people, equity, and empowerment.” She affirmed that women remain the architects of inclusive growth and the guardians of social inclusion, adding that achieving President Tinubu’s $1 trillion economy target by 2030 would require the full economic participation of Nigerian women.

The Minister announced the creation of a National Fellowship and Incubator for women, a new initiative to accelerate professionalisation and sustainability among women-led businesses. The programme, she said, will provide structured mentorship, access to finance, and capacity development for women entrepreneurs across all 774 local government areas.

“Our overarching, non-negotiable mission is to empower 10 million women by 2030 across high-growth, non-oil sectors such as this one,” she revealed. “These businesses are the foundation upon which our national economic transformation will be built.”

Earlier in her remarks, the Convener of AHEM-C 2025, Ms Akinlade Tolulope, said the summit was born out of a passion to reposition Africa’s image and redefine its potential through the power of hospitality, creativity, and collaboration.

“This is more than a conference—it is a bridge, a voice, and a vision for Africa,” Tolulope said. “We are showing the world that Africa is not a continent of limitation, but one of limitless opportunity. This movement cannot be driven by one person alone; it requires a collective effort. So, this is a call for sponsors and partners to join us as we journey through Nigeria and Africa to showcase our continent to the world.”

“Africa is not just a continent; it’s an experience, a rhythm, a feeling, and a story waiting to be told,” Tolulope said. “We have everything—culture, creativity, diversity, warmth, love, and the most beautiful people. AHEM-C was birthed as an event and a movement to empower, connect, and elevate Africa’s hospitality and event industry.”

According to the convener, the theme of the 2025 summit — “Upscaling Businesses through Structure, Strategy, and Innovation for Long-Term Sustainability” — reflects the urgent need for African businesses to evolve beyond passion and embrace systems that ensure continuity and global competitiveness.

“The hospitality and tourism industry is one of the largest contributors to global growth, projected to reach $930 billion by 2026. In Nigeria alone, this sector generated $3.95 billion in 2024 and is projected to rise to $5.74 billion by 2027,” he revealed.

Across Africa, the industry employs millions and contributes nearly 10% of total employment, proof that hospitality is more than service—it is a powerful engine for development.

However, she said that passion alone is not enough, adding that Africa must add structure, strategy, and innovation to sustain the growth. “That’s why AHEM-C exists—to showcase the culture of African countries through learning, networking, and tourism,” she explained.