FG Urges Women to Drive Economic Growth Through Trade and Entrepreneurship

The Federal Government has called on women across the country to take advantage of trade and entrepreneurship opportunities to strengthen Nigeria’s economic growth.

The Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Jumoke Oduwole, made the call during the commemoration of the 2026 International Women’s Day held in Abuja.

The minister noted that the celebration of International Women’s Day, observed annually on March 8, recognizes the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women worldwide.

Speaking on the 2026 theme, “Give to Gain,” Oduwole said the event aimed to expand opportunities for women and strengthen their participation in trade, entrepreneurship, and national development.

She urged women to equip themselves with the knowledge and tools necessary to benefit from government policies and emerging economic opportunities.

According to her, women should explore opportunities in agribusiness, manufacturing, and export trade while taking advantage of grants, funding programmes, and cooperative initiatives designed to support business growth.

“The future of Nigeria’s economy will be shaped by how well we empower women to participate fully in trade, industry, and investment,” she said.

The minister also encouraged women to embrace continuous learning, digital innovation, and the creation of multiple income streams to remain competitive in the evolving global economy.

She reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to supporting women through policies, training programmes, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at strengthening their participation in trade, industry, and investment.

Also speaking at the event, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Nura Rimi, said the ministry had made significant progress in promoting gender inclusion.

Rimi acknowledged that despite funding constraints, the ministry remains committed to sustaining initiatives that support women-focused programmes.

“Even with the funding challenges we face, our commitment to ensuring that women-focused programmes remain a priority in this ministry has not wavered,” he said.

Earlier, the Head of the Gender Unit in the ministry, Hauwa Sarki, said the programme was designed to expose women in the ministry to strategic policies, mentorship opportunities, and entrepreneurship pathways.

“Our goal is to equip women with practical knowledge, mentorship, and the confidence to translate policy opportunities into real economic empowerment,” she said.

The event formed part of activities marking the global celebration of women’s achievements and their contributions to economic and social development.

Source: News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).