Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim Highlights Nigeria’s Progress on Women’s Inclusion at UK Parliament Dialogue

Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has showcased Nigeria’s growing progress in advancing women’s inclusion and leadership during a high-level ministerial fireside chat held at the Houses of Parliament.

The dialogue, hosted by the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association UK, took place on the margins of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to the United Kingdom, bringing together policymakers and stakeholders to discuss inclusive governance and gender equity.

Addressing participants, the Minister highlighted key milestones recorded by Nigeria in promoting women’s participation across critical sectors. She noted that the country is witnessing one of its highest levels of female representation in governance support roles, including a record number of female deputy governors since the return to democracy.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim further pointed to significant gains in the judiciary and civil service, revealing that women now make up over 40 percent of Nigeria’s judges and continue to hold top leadership positions across public institutions.

In the economic sphere, she described women as the backbone of Nigeria’s productivity, accounting for about 70 percent of smallholder farmers and playing dominant roles in small and medium enterprises, as well as the care economy.

While acknowledging these achievements, the Minister noted that political representation remains an area of focus, as women still occupy a smaller share of elective positions across national and state legislatures.

She, however, expressed confidence in ongoing reforms and targeted interventions by the Ministry, particularly the “She Runs” initiative under the Renewed Hope Social Impact Agenda. The programme is designed to provide mentorship, funding, and exposure for women seeking elective offices.

The Minister also referenced advocacy efforts around the proposed special reserve seat bill, describing it as a catalyst for awareness and a necessary step toward correcting long-standing gender imbalances in governance.

Reaffirming the Ministry’s mandate, Sulaiman-Ibrahim stated that the institution remains committed to serving as the “human face of government,” driving policies that protect the rights of women and vulnerable populations while fostering an enabling environment for inclusive leadership.

The engagement formed part of a series of high-level dialogues aimed at strengthening bilateral cooperation and spotlighting Nigeria’s reform agenda during President Tinubu’s official visit to the United Kingdom.