Gender and Inclusion Summit Highlights Urgent Need for Economic Empowerment for Women

The annual Gender and Inclusion Summit, held on September 8th-9th and organized by the Policy Innovation Center (PIC), focused on the theme 'From Agenda to Action: Making Innovations Count for the Last Mile.' Chaired by Bisi Adeleye-Fayemi, this year's summit brought together key stakeholders to discuss the critical issue of women's economic empowerment in Nigeria, a nation that, despite having an array of policies in place, continues to struggle with gender disparities.

In her opening remarks, Adeleye-Fayemi commended Dr. Osasuyi Dirisu and the leadership of PIC for their efforts in convening this important dialogue. She underscored the irony that while Nigeria boasts numerous commendable policies and programs aimed at enhancing women's economic opportunities, the impact has been minimal. "We need to ask why the needle is not moving," she remarked, highlighting the urgent need for introspection and action.

Recent data underscores the gravity of the situation, with Nigeria ranking 124th out of 148 countries in the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Index for 2025 and 127th out of 139 on the 2024 SDG Gender Index. These rankings reveal a disheartening picture, with Nigeria classified as 'very poor' in gender equity and positioned 30th among 36 Sub-Saharan African economies. Such statistics raise crucial questions about the effectiveness of existing interventions and the need for a strategic overhaul in approach.

During the summit, Adeleye-Fayemi proposed five key points for consideration, urging participants to think critically about the barriers preventing progress in women's economic empowerment. She emphasized that without addressing these fundamental issues, the vast potential of Nigerian women will remain untapped. The summit serves as a crucial platform for stakeholders to collaborate and innovate, aiming to turn discussions into actionable strategies that can genuinely transform the economic landscape for women in Nigeria.