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From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja
In a landmark event held in Beijing, Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, co-hosted the very first Nigeria–China Women’s Infrastructure Investment Forum, a pivotal platform aimed at fostering bilateral cooperation on gender-responsive infrastructure, women’s economic empowerment, and inclusive development.
The forum brought together senior officials, investors, development partners, and private-sector leaders from both Nigeria and China to discuss strategic partnerships under the theme, “Investing in Nigeria’s Future: Harnessing Gender-Responsive Infrastructure for Sustainable Growth and Social Resilience.”
Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim led Nigeria’s delegation in signing a strategic Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) focused on “Enhancing the Participation of Women in Nigeria’s Gas Sector.” This agreement is a crucial initiative designed to accelerate Nigeria’s clean energy transition by expanding sustainable energy access for women-led businesses and households nationwide.
The MoU aligns with the broader Renewed Hope Agenda under President Tinubu, complementing ongoing programmes such as the Women Agro Value Expansion (WAVE) Programme and the establishment of Safe Spaces and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) across Nigeria.
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“This forum marks a decisive shift from policy dialogue to measurable action,” Sulaiman-Ibrahim said. “Through partnerships like these, we move beyond advocacy to execution. The Renewed Hope Agenda is clear—empower women, strengthen families, and foster shared prosperity. By investing in women, we are investing in the future of Nigeria.”
Sulaiman-Ibrahim expressed gratitude to the Government of China for their partnership and hospitality and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to prompt and transparent implementation of the new agreement to ensure measurable impact.
“These engagements are not merely ceremonial; they are operational blueprints for change,” the Minister concluded. “By investing in women, we invest in Nigeria’s future.”
The forum also received high commendation from Chinese partners. Group Managing Director of the Mutual Commitment Group, Liu Zhaolong expressed optimism about the long-term collaboration between the two countries: “Our cooperation means that wherever we work, we will honour our promises. This agreement gives us great hope and confidence for long-term partnership.”
Supporting the government’s efforts, Chairman of the House Committee on Women Affairs representing Kosofe Federal Constituency, Kafilat Ogbara, applauded Sulaiman-Ibrahim’s leadership. She reiterated the legislature’s commitment to protecting and advancing women and children, citing the ongoing Historic Bill for Reserved Seats for Women as a testament to Nigeria’s progress in women’s participation and inclusion.
“My presence here is a testament to seamless collaboration between the Executive and Legislative arms of government,” she stated. “We provide the structural assurance that all projects discussed today are grounded in a strong, progressive legal framework.”
Head of Procurement at the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP), Eugenia Ojeah, representing its Director-General, praised the Ministry’s leadership and emphasized affirmative procurement as a vital tool for fostering equity and inclusive economic growth. “This milestone empowers Nigerian women to live their best lives. Affirmative procurement is a global best practice for promoting inclusive participation and building stronger societies,” she said.
From the private sector, companies like Newbury Energy Ltd and Easy Sales Export shared their experiences on empowering women as key drivers of innovation and productivity, reinforcing their support for the Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions (RH-SII 774), which targets the economic empowerment of 10 million women across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
