Women Affairs Minister, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim Vows Transformative Tenure

The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has promised a dynamic and results-driven approach during her tenure, declaring that it will not be “business as usual.”

Addressing staff and stakeholders of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in Abuja on Monday, Sulaiman-Ibrahim pledged to bring innovation and practical action to advance the welfare of Nigerian women.

The minister was welcomed with cheers, dance, and music from the staff, women’s groups, party members, and delegates from her home state, Nasarawa.

Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, expressed confidence that Sulaiman-Ibrahim possesses the skills to create meaningful, lasting impacts.

In her address, Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasized a commitment to translating policies into tangible actions that address justice, equality, and progress for Nigerian women.

She also expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and First Lady Remi Tinubu for entrusting her with the role, revealing that the President had urged her to focus on initiatives that support the welfare of Nigerian women, the empowerment of the girl child, and the protection of society’s most vulnerable.

She stated, “We will work tirelessly to ensure that women voices are heard and represented in all areas of governance.

“We wil advocate laws that empower women and ensure their rights are protected. This will include working closely with legislators and civil society to bring discriminatory laws to an end.

“Women and girls who suffer from gender-based violence must have access to swift and fair justice. We will collaborate with the Federal Ministry of Justice and the Nigeria Police Force to ensure a robust and effective response to such incidents.

“We will expand social services, ensuring they are equipped to support survivors of violence and collaborate with partners to create safe spaces for those affected.

“In partnership with stakeholders, we will strengthen guidelines and protocols for the protection of children from abuse, trafficking, and exploitation. The well-being of our children will always be a top priority.

“These mandates from Mr President are very clear, and I am immensely grateful to him for his confidence in me to lead this charge. I will not betray that confidence or let Nigerians down. We will work to make the adjustments necessary to become Africa’s leader in gender equity.

“I have a proven record from my tenure at NAPTIP, where I led Nigeria from a Tier 2 Watchlist to Tier 1. Tangible results are achievable when we commit to our objectives. Once again, I pledge to deliver.

“It is indeed Women O’clock in Nigeria. I am calling on all hands to be on deck to support this movement of equity and progress. To every Nigerian woman: this is your time. Together, we will break down barriers, lift each other up, and ensure that your voices are heard, your rights are protected, and your dreams are within reach.

“I am here for you, and we will walk this path forward, hand in hand, towards a brighter and more inclusive Nigeria.”