Tinubu: Nigeria’s Story Incomplete Without Women

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has declared that no account of Nigeria’s progress can be told without recognising the sacrifices and resilience of women, stressing that they remain central to nation-building from independence to the present day.

Tinubu made the remarks on Thursday at the 9th edition of the Voice of Women Conference and Awards (VOW2025) held in Abuja. Represented by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, the President assured that his administration would continue to expand opportunities for women under the Renewed Hope Agenda.

He commended Nigerian women for their roles as family protectors, innovators, entrepreneurs, and leaders, describing them as the backbone of societal progress. “The story of our nation is incomplete without the strength of her women,” he said. “Guided by this year’s theme, ‘Nigerian Women and the Power of Collective Action,’ your voices remain the heartbeat of our country undaunted, unyielding, and rising to shape a future of equity and progress.”

Vice President Kashim Shettima, in his goodwill message, aligned with the President’s remarks, describing women as the vanguard of the nation’s future and the backbone of national resilience.

In her keynote address, Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim traced the history of women’s activism in Nigeria, citing the Aba Women’s Protest of 1929, the Egba Women’s Revolt of the 1940s, and women-led coalitions during Nigeria’s return to democracy in the 1990s. She urged women to move beyond advocacy to concrete action by demanding accountability and representation at all levels. “Women must not only be seen but also heard, not only counted but also counted upon,” she said.

Also speaking, Hon. Kafilat Adetola Ogbara, Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs, who represented Speaker of the House of Representatives, Abbas Tajudeen, emphasised the need for unity among women to break barriers in governance and development.

Conference convener, Toun Okewale Sonaiya, called on grassroots women to use their voting power to support women in politics, while urging President Tinubu to back his promises with concrete policies that will increase women’s representation in elective and appointive offices.

“Increasing women’s representation in decision-making is not a favour but a necessity for Nigeria’s growth,” she stressed.