FG Lists Empowerment Programmes for Women in Agriculture

The Federal Government of Nigeria has unveiled a series of empowerment programmes targeting women in agriculture, business, energy, and other key sectors as part of International Women's Day 2026 celebrations in Abuja.

Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, highlighted these initiatives under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasising their reach across all 774 local government areas to boost women's economic participation and national development.

These programmes, including the Women Agro-Value Expansion (WAVE) in agriculture, EmpowerHer774 for business support, and PowerHer774 with Women in Gas (WINGs) for energy, promise training, finance, and market access for millions of women. Backed by partners like the World Bank, they aim to generate high economic returns and address gender gaps in Nigeria's growth story.

Minister Spotlights Women-Focused Programmes

Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, Minister of Women's Affairs and Social Development, used the 2026 International Women’s Day and pre-Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) briefing in Abuja to outline the Federal Government's commitment to women's empowerment. The initiatives form part of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises women’s economic participation, family stability, and national development.

She described them as practical steps expanding opportunities for women in all 774 local government areas.

“Nations rise when vision meets action, when leadership chooses discipline over delay,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim said during the ministerial press briefing.

The minister stressed that the government’s focus on women is not just social policy but a critical economic strategy.

“Every dollar invested in women’s economic empowerment generates between seven and twelve dollars in returns,” she noted, citing estimates from the International Finance Corporation on closing Nigeria’s gender financing gap.

Agriculture Takes Centre Stage with WAVE Programme

Leading the pack, the government is championing women's role in agriculture through the Women Agro-Value Expansion (WAVE) programme, a flagship effort to transform female farmers from subsistence levels to profitable agribusiness owners. The project provides training, production tools, market access, and opportunities along agricultural value chains, targeting millions of women nationwide.

Authorities say WAVE breaks barriers in financing and ownership, empowering women to drive food production and wealth creation. Recent launches aim to reach 10 million women with ₦10 trillion in viable initiatives, aligning with Nigeria's push for food security amid global challenges.

This focus resonates deeply in Nigeria, where women form the backbone of farming yet face systemic hurdles like limited credit and technology access. By prioritising agriculture first, the FG positions women as key players in boosting output and exports, much like successful models empowering female farmers elsewhere.

Business Support for Women

EmpowerHer774 serves as the cornerstone of the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions 774 (RHSII-774), described as Nigeria's largest coordinated women empowerment drive. It targets livelihoods in every local government area with business training, mentorship, and financial linkages to help women launch or scale small enterprises.

Complementing this is the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up, in partnership with the World Bank and states, set to impact 4.5 million women in nearly 300,000 collectives. It strengthens financial independence via cooperatives, savings, credit, and business development.​

These efforts promise to unlock entrepreneurship across Nigeria, fostering self-reliance and community growth for women, youths, professionals, students, and stakeholders eyeing agric-linked ventures.​

Energy Access

In the energy sector, PowerHer774 expands women's roles in Nigeria’s energy economy, while the Women in Gas (WINGs) programme promotes clean energy businesses like gas distribution and cooking solutions. These tackle health risks from traditional fuels while creating jobs in communities.

WINGs, part of RH-SII774, removes barriers to women's participation in gas and fosters entrepreneurship in renewables and distribution. Officials project thousands of opportunities, blending economic gains with environmental benefits.

Finance, Digital Tools, and Social Protection

A ₦500 billion financing pot targets women-led MSMEs with easier credit across sectors. The Happy Woman App, a digital platform introduced by the Ministry of Women Affairs, also connects users to programmes, resources, and opportunities digitally.​

According to the Minister, social protections now cover 9.4 million households, 70% women-led, alongside policies which are the Domestic Violence Against Persons Act in all states. New mandates include a Nutrition Department and child protection plans.

Partners and Experts Back the Drive

Beyond the FG's commitment to these programmes, international organisations and development partners have also expressed support for them.

UNFPA's country representative, Muriel Mafico, pledged support as she stressed how partnership is essential in advancing Nigeria’s gender equality goals.

“Leadership matters, and your presence is testimony to what can be achieved when leadership leads. Partnerships for impact – that’s what we represent, and that’s our pledge,” she added.

UN Women's Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Beatrice Eyong, stated that empowering women isn’t charity—it’s smart economics. When she gains, Nigeria grows. She emphasised that women’s economic participation directly strengthens communities and national development.

While describing women as a key part of Nigeria’s human capital development, the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of Economy, Wale Edun, noted that women are empowered, and children are protected, families are supported, productivity increases, communities thrive, and the nation grows stronger.