Women Partner Federal Govt On Economic Empowerment

The Commonwealth Business Women Africa (CBW) has initiated partnership with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development to boost women’s economic empowerment.

The continental president of CBW, Ngozi Oyewole, disclosed this when she visited the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim in Abuja as part of strategic engagement with policy-makers and other stakeholders

She said the strategic visit to was to strengthen institutional collaboration and advance a more coordinated national framework for women’s economic and leadership empowerment.

“First, to align our initiatives with the ministry’s national priorities and the Nigeria First policy — ensuring that Nigerian women-owned enterprises are not just participating in the economy, but are positioned at the forefront of public procurement, industrial growth, and value-chain development.

“Second, to explore structured pathways for scaling women-led businesses from micro and SME levels into corporate supply chains, government contracting ecosystems, and export-ready enterprises,” she said.

Oyewole who is also the vice chairman Governing Council of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF) said the meeting discussed the importance of capacity building, certification readiness, financial access, digital inclusion, and governance structures that make women-owned businesses competitive and sustainable.