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By Merit Ibe
Going by the strategic place of women in socio-economic transformation of any nation, the federal government has said it will continually ensure women in Nigeria are empowered so they can in turn power the wheels of the nation’s growth.
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, made this known in Lagos at the Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR) forum, noting that women continue to lead with excellence across MSMEs, manufacturing, services, innovation and the creative economy.
Oduwole said the ministry is broadening access to opportunity, visibility and global competitiveness for women and youth through initiatives such as the Nigerian Talent Export Programme (NATEF) and the newly launched Nigerian Talent Accelerator Network, co-chaired by the ministry, the Ministry of Education, Africa Finance Corporation and Flour Mills of Nigeria.
She added that under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) and other trade agreements, Nigeria is intentionally positioning its creative and digital sectors as strong export frontiers deserving targeted support, market access and investment.
She said the ministry was building structured pathways to identify, develop, and position Nigerian talent for high-growth global opportunities.
The minister pointed out that these initiative are designed to close the gap, strengthen the services sector, and create unified jobs for young people, especially women who continue to demonstrate exceptional capacity, across all fields.
Oduwole empahsised that the role of the ministry is to open the doors, remove the barriers, and ensure that every Nigerian woman can rise and reach the global stage that they want, as “women remain central to our trade and industrial policy as we implement the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“Let us remember that the true essence of being confidently audacious in all that we are doing is not only to shine, but to light the ways for others.
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“Our task as policy makers is to ensure that this audacity that we find in our Nigerian women whether in trade, industry, creativity professional services or technology does not remain untapped. We want every woman to reach their highest potential translate it into skill exports, decent jobs and sustainable prosperity.
“Our trade and industrial policy investment must deliver and the Nigerian economy will continue to grow.”
She reaffirmed government’s commitment to supporting women exporting culture, entertainment, innovative products and professional services across borders.
According to her, structured pathways are being built to identify, develop and deploy Nigerian talent into high-growth global opportunities.
The minister stressed that these initiatives aim to close gaps, strengthen the services sector and create quality jobs for young people.
“The Ministry’s role is to open doors, remove barriers and ensure that Nigerian women can reach the global stage as envisioned in the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Oduwole urged policymakers to harness the “audacity” and potential of Nigerian women across trade, industry, creativity, professional services and technology, saying their contributions must translate into skills export, decent jobs and sustainable prosperity.
In her address, Amina Oyagbola, Founder and Chairperson of WISCAR, highlighted that gender inclusion is both a national and economic imperative. “For 17 years, WISCAR has equipped women with the competence, confidence, and courage to lead. Beyond empowerment, we must claim our future through leadership, accountability, and collective action.
Global evidence shows that closing gender gaps in labour participation could add USD 28 trillion to global GDP, and Africa could gain USD 316 billion by 2030 by increasing women’s economic participation. Companies with gender-diverse leadership are also more profitable, more innovative, and better governed,” she said.
