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Implement Affirmative Action For Women, Stakeholders Urge President-Elect, Tinubu
Joel Ajayi
Stakeholders advocating for gender equality have called on the incoming administration to ensure the implementation of the National Gender Policy (NGP), in order to bring on board a greater number of women in the governance process.
The Chief Executive Officer of Gender Dynamix Consult LTD, Joyce Ahmadu led the call during PUBLIC CONSCIENCE, an anti-corruption radio programme, produced by the Progressive Impact Organization for Community Development, PRIMORG, Wednesday in Abuja.
The Affirmative Action (AA) policy has been around in Nigeria since 2006, with successive governments failing to implement it. The policy, which was revised in 2022, demands that 50 per cent of women be involved in all governance processes, whether by election or appointment.
Ahmadu specifically urged the incoming government not to ensure the activation of affirmative action that will guarantee females to get 50 per cent representations in government as contained in the revised NGP, noting that adequate inclusion of women by the incoming administration has the propensity of reducing public sector corruption.
She tasked the President-elect, Ahmed Bola Tinubu to be deliberate about including women in his administration and emulate former President Goodluck Jonathan who appointed women into sensitive positions in his administration.
“The President-Elect has to be much more deliberate.
“How does he see women in decision making? Does he see value in it? President Goodluck Jonathan made some achievements in improving women participation in governance. He went as far as including gender budgeting where some key ministries had specific budgets for women participation. Those are the kinds of things a leader who values women in governance would do.
“For the incoming government, I don’t know how gender sensitive he is, we need to see practical actions on the table. We believe that if we bring quality women on the table, they can change the dynamics. I will start by asking the president elect’s perspective in terms of gender mainstreaming. The President elect needs to be intentional about gender mainstreaming to promote gender equality,” Ahmadu averred.
On his part, PRIMORG’s Media & Communications Officer, Chidozie Ogbonnaya also urged the incoming administration to follow through with the provisions of the revised National Gender Policy and ensure it runs an all-inclusive government.
Ogbonnaya noted that Nigerian women are doing exploits in the private sector and have also shown capacity before now in public service which should encourage any administration in carrying them along, while appealing to Tinubu administration to implement the revised NGP
His words: “when you inherit a government, you inherit whatever policy is on ground, so the revised NGP is on ground.
“The incoming government can look at the NGP and increase the number of women in his cabinet, because in the current Buhari’s administration, there is low representation of women and I believe Tinubu should raise the bar. So, I’m urging him to come in and raise the bar and assuage the complaints and the fact that many women were not able to get into leadership positions through elections”.
Public Conscience is a syndicated weekly anti-corruption radio program used by PRIMORG to draw government and citizens’ attention to corruption and integrity issues in Nigeria.
The program has the support of the MacArthur Foundation.
News
AWESSA 2026: Customs Assures Border Cooperation for Women Entrepreneurs
By James Samuel, Abuja
The Nigeria Customs Service has said the nation’s borders must become gateways of opportunity for African women entrepreneurs, not obstacles that kill their businesses.
This was disclosed at the African Women’s Economic Sovereignty Summit and Awards (AWESSA) 2026 held at the Customs House, corporate headquarters of the Nigeria Customs Service in Abuja.
Representing the Comptroller-General of Customs, Bashir Adewale Adeniyi, MFR, his representative, an Assistant Controller, said hosting the summit inside Customs premises was deliberate.
“That this summit holds within the Customs premises is no accident. It is a statement of intent,” he said.
“The border is where the promise of every African trader either comes alive or dies quietly. And the men and women of this Service have resolved that for every woman entrepreneur of this continent, that promise will never die.”
He said women account for an estimated 70% of informal cross-border trade in Africa and over half of agricultural labour, yet they face documentation, standards, finance and harassment challenges.
“Too often she meets the border as an obstacle rather than a gateway. Because she trades in small volumes, in cash, in informality without formal papers, capable business women are now trapped in informality, invisible to trade statistics,” he noted.
He added: “AfCFTA will not be delivered by treaties alone. It will be delivered at border posts, in conference halls, and in market stores.”
Also speaking, the Executive Director of the Nigerian Export Promotion Council, Mrs. Nonye Ayeni, represented by a Director, said women are central to Nigeria’s non-oil export sector.
According to her, NEPC’s focus is now on building export- ready competitive enterprises through programmes like the Women in Export Initiative, Export Clinic, and Zero to Export.
“Our focus is no longer on encouraging exports alone, it is on building competitive export-ready enterprises. We are supporting women to move beyond production into value addition, quality assurance, standard compliance, branding and market positioning,” she said.
She said AfCFTA offers a market of over one billion people, but women need knowledge, certifications and institutional support.
“Empowering women economically is one of the most effective tools for achieving poverty reduction, food security, job creation and inclusive growth,” she stated.
The Convener, Helen Okon, who is the Publisher of Business Review Africa & Africa Today Magazine, as well as representatives of NAFDAC DG and NEXIM Bank MD, reaffirmed commitment to supporting women-owned businesses access standards, certification and finance.
The summit, with the theme of positioning women as drivers of trade and sustainable development, is part of activities marking the International Year of the Women Farmer.
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