President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has said that the story of Nigeria’s progress cannot be told without recognising the sacrifices, resilience, and leadership of women, stressing that they remain central to the nation’s history and future.
Gatekeepers News reports that speaking at the 9th Edition of the Voice of Women Conference and Awards (VOW2025) held on Thursday in Abuja, Tinubu praised women for their enduring struggles and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to expanding opportunities for them under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Represented by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the President said:
“Our ever-supportive and resilient Nigerian Women, as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, I salute the 9th Edition of the Voice of Women Conference, holding at the dawn of Nigeria’s 65th Independence Anniversary, a reminder that the story of our nation is incomplete without the strength of her women. Guided by this year’s theme, ‘Nigerian Women and the Power of Collective Action,’ your voices remain the heartbeat of our country; echoing, undaunted, unyielding, and rising to shape a future of equity and progress under the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Vice President Kashim Shettima, in a goodwill message, echoed the President’s remarks, describing Nigerian women as “the backbone of our nation’s resilience and the vanguard of its future,” and noting their unrecognised contributions to peace, unity, and development.
In her keynote address, Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim traced the history of women’s activism in Nigeria — from the Aba Women’s Protest of 1929 and the Egba Women’s Revolt of the 1940s to the women-led coalitions that supported Nigeria’s return to democracy in the 1990s. She said these historic struggles highlight the enduring power of collective action.
“It is no longer enough for women to celebrate historic struggles without translating them into real gains in the present,” she said, urging women to demand accountability from leaders, insist on representation at all decision-making levels, and support one another.
“These legacies remind us that when women stand together, they bend the arc of history toward justice, equity, and progress. Women must not only be seen but also heard, not only counted but also counted upon. The Nigerian woman is not just a helper, she is a leader.”
Representing Speaker Abbas Tajudeen, Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Hon. Kafilat Adetola Ogbara, stressed that unity among women remains vital for breaking barriers in governance and development.
Conference convener Toun Okewale Sonaiya called on grassroots women to use their voting power to support women in politics and urged President Tinubu to turn his promises into action.
“We call on President Tinubu to ensure that his Renewed Hope Agenda translates into concrete commitments for women. Increasing women’s representation in decision-making is not a favour but a necessity for Nigeria’s growth,” she said.
Sonaiya also urged women to maintain unity across political, religious, and ethnic divides, warning that disunity has historically been used to weaken women’s voices.
