The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has called on state commissioners for women affairs to develop strategic plans that emphasize gender-responsive budgeting and policy implementation.
Speaking at the 2nd Annual Conference of Commissioners of State Ministries of Women Affairs in Abuja, Sulaiman-Ibrahim—represented by her Senior Special Assistant on Women and Community Engagement, Princess Joan Jummai Idonije—stressed the need for practical mechanisms to protect vulnerable groups.
Call for Stronger Gender Policies
The conference, themed “Sub-National Policy and Practice for Enhancing Rights, Protection, and Justice for Women, Children, and Persons with Disabilities,” was organized by the EU-funded Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC-Phase II) Programme in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.
The minister highlighted that 35 states have adopted the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act (VAPP) and all 36 states have domesticated the Child Rights Act but noted that enforcement remains weak.
“We must move from legislation to real protection and justice mechanisms that safeguard the most vulnerable,” she stated.
More Funding, More Impact
Sulaiman-Ibrahim urged states to increase funding for gender-focused programs, social protection initiatives, and access-to-justice systems.
She emphasized that policy frameworks must be data-driven to ensure that resources reach those who need them most.
She also spotlighted the Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up (NFWP-SU), which aims to economically empower 4.5 million women across the country.
“I urge each state to integrate women-led businesses into value chains, expand access to finance, and leverage opportunities under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” she added.
Strengthening Child Protection and Gender Equality
To improve child welfare, the minister announced plans for a National Child Protection Framework and called for the establishment of:
✅ Child Protection Committees
✅ Disability Rights Commissions
✅ Gender-Based Violence Response Units
She also emphasized the need for state-level gender data systems to track progress and feed into the Women’s Empowerment and Protection Dashboard, ensuring accountability and transparency.
EU and RoLAC Pledge Support
The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Gauteir Mignot, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting initiatives that promote the rights and dignity of women, children, and persons with disabilities.
“The rights of women, children, and persons with disabilities are essential to sustainable societies.
No society can progress when half of its population is marginalized,” he stated.
Danladi Plang, representing RoLAC, stressed the importance of increased investment and resource allocation to translate policy commitments into action.
“We must influence our governors to ensure that the agreements made here are implemented before the next general elections,” he urged.
The conference underscored the urgent need for state governments to pass key laws that protect women, children, and persons with disabilities, reinforcing the nation’s commitment to gender equity and social justice.
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