Nigeria Leaders Gather to Address Gender Equity Financing

Mary Nnah

The Gender and Inclusion Summit 2024 recently brought together prominent ministers and leaders to address an urgent issue: how to finance gender equity in Nigeria.

The high-level session featured distinguished participants, including the Minister of Art, Culture and Creative Economy in Nigeria; Hannatu Musawa, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare; Dr. Tunji Alausa, Secretary General of the African First Ladies Peace Mission and former Vice President of Liberia; Dr. Jewel Howard Taylor, and Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Hon. Minister Vitalis Obi.

Dr. Chukwuemeka Onyimadu, a Feminist Economist and Head of Women Economic Empowerment at UN Women, reiterated the necessity of aligning funding with strategic priorities.

“By backing our priorities with funding, we can drive meaningful progress toward a more equitable and sustainable future,” he said.

He also called for greater external collaborations to meet the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Moderated by Dr. Tayo Aduloju, CEO of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, the session delved into how financing can impact gender equity.

It also brought to the fore how targeted investments could unlock new opportunities for women and girls.

While speaking, Musawa stressed the importance of creating a supportive environment for women to thrive.

“Once you create a formidable force that is accessible to everyone, it’s easy for women to seize opportunities,” she noted.

On her part, Dr. Taylor tackled common misconceptions about women, stating that: “The gap is huge, and we must correct the wrong perceptions about women. If a leader says gender equality is a priority, they must demonstrate it through action.”

Sharing his thoughts, Dr Alausa reinforced the importance of education, particularly for girls.

“The smartest investment is to educate a girl child and pair it with a comprehensive healthcare system. Achieving these two goals will significantly narrow the gender gap,” he stated.

Echoing this sentiment, Dr. Obi announced plans for the 2025 budgeting process to be gender-responsive.

“We expect agencies, departments, and ministries to leverage this opportunity to advance gender equality,” he said.

Earlier in the summit, Dr. Osasuyi Dirisu, Executive Director of the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC), reflected on the progress made since the inaugural summit in 2021.

“We have gathered once again to amplify the voices of marginalized communities, accelerate gender equality, and champion inclusive policies. This year’s summit marks a pivotal moment in our journey toward a more equitable Nigeria,” she stated.

NESG CEO, Dr. Aduloju reiterated the summit’s goal to create actionable solutions to reduce inequality.

“Designing and implementing solutions that allow women and other marginalized groups to take their rightful place in society is crucial for realizing our nation’s full potential,” he said.

Udeme Ufot, Chairman of the Policy Innovation Centre, emphasized the importance of addressing multidimensional poverty in Africa.

“Despite economic growth in some regions, poverty remains widespread, with many living below the $2.15 per day poverty line. It is critical to address these challenges and identify varied approaches to combat poverty and inequality to achieve the SDGs,” he stated.

Mr. Olaniyi Yusuf, Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group, reinforced the urgency of the summit’s theme.

“We aim to create solutions that lead to the reduction of inequality and deprivation that have stifled progress for too long. Tackling poverty, which disproportionately affects women in our society, is urgent,” he noted.

The Gender and Inclusion Summit serves as an annual gathering focused on evidence-driven dialogue, policy advocacy, and ongoing assessment of progress in advancing Gender Equality and Social Inclusion (GESI) in Nigeria.

Its creation of the “Purple Book,” a collection of policy and program recommendations from the summits, underscores its commitment to sustainable advocacy.

This year’s summit was a call to action for all stakeholders to unite in fostering a more equitable future for women and girls in Nigeria.

With a renewed commitment to financing gender equity, the summit aims to pave the way for transformative change that benefits all of society.