Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Senator Abubakar Bagudu, says women’s empowerment is critical to Nigeria’s economic growth. 

Speaking in Abuja  at the World Bank Group’s Women Empowerment Policy and Jobs Forum, the Minister said women must be empowered to boost their productivity. 
He addressed the theme, “Women, Jobs, and Markets: Unlocking Inclusive Opportunities in Nigeria,” and called for urgent removal of systemic barriers limiting women’s potential.

 Bagudu noted that Nigerian women are deeply involved in farming, trading, and small-scale production, but their contributions remain under-recognised and undervalued. 
 He listed structural challenges women face, including limited access to finance, poor market access, and weak infrastructure, saying these lead to low returns despite long hours of work.

The Minister called for a shift from subsistence activities to productivity-driven enterprises. He urged investment in better production processes, value addition, and market integration so women can scale their businesses.

 Bagudu stressed that progress needs coordinated action across government levels, with support from development partners and the private sector.
 He said President Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Ward Development Plan will decentralise growth by energising local economies in all 8,809 wards, giving targeted support to women and small entrepreneurs.

 Highlighting successes in agriculture and other sectors, Bagudu said access to finance, training, and modern tech has raised women’s incomes and made businesses more sustainable. 
 He concluded that women’s economic empowerment is central to Nigeria’s development strategy, noting that unlocking women’s full potential will accelerate job creation, cut poverty, and drive sustainable growth.

 

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