The Gender and Inclusion Summit 2024 (GS24), held in Abuja, saw a boost in women empowerment efforts, led by Eden Venture Group, a member of the WEE Policy Catalyst Fund cohort. The group, under the #WEEliftNaija initiative, partnered with Albright Stonebridge Group (ASG) to discuss strategies aimed at improving the economic and social participation of women across Nigeria. These powerful voices for women’s empowerment dominated GS 24.
Advancing Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Policy
The summit, themed “Reimagining Gender Inclusive Pathways and Partnerships for Poverty Reduction,” focused on accelerating the domestication of the Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) policy. This policy aims to bridge economic inequality by supporting women in agriculture, entrepreneurship, and other emerging sectors. The event featured an interactive booth, where attendees discussed the policy’s impact and the urgent need for it to be enacted in all 36 states.
Keynote Address: Urgency in Implementing the WEE Policy
Greta Bull, Director of the Women’s Economic Empowerment Programme at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, emphasized the necessity of the WEE policy for lifting women out of poverty. She praised the policy as a clear plan for boosting women’s economic status, stressing the importance of adopting it nationwide to close gender gaps in important sectors.
Highlight: Fireside Chat with Kwara State First Lady
A key moment at the summit was the fireside chat featuring the First Lady of Kwara State, Ambassador Professor Olufolake Abdulrazaq, who discussed her state’s proactive approach to empowering women through various programs. Kwara State, she said, has successfully implemented leadership and financial independence plans for women, even before the official domestication of the WEE policy.
“We’ve rolled out social investment programs that have empowered over 20,000 women, helping them actively participate in the economy,” she remarked, showcasing Kwara’s commitment to gender inclusion.
Call for Gender-Responsive Policies
The event also saw contributions from notable figures like the Minister for Arts, Culture & the Creative Economy, Hon. Hannatu Musawa, who stressed the importance of measuring the impact of existing gender policies. She called for a mapping structure to better understand where the gaps lie and how to address them effectively.
Focusing on Communication for Change
Fifehan Osikanlu, Founder and CEO of Eden Venture Group, stressed the need for clear communication to turn gender policies into action. She highlighted that the group is partnering with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to promote the adoption of the WEE policy across Nigeria.
Osikanlu noted that their efforts are aimed at driving financial inclusion and promoting gender-responsive budgeting.
Men’s Role in Gender Equality
Media personality and WEE Champion, Folu Storms, addressed the importance of male involvement in promoting gender equality. She encouraged men to actively support these efforts, stating, “Empowering women benefits everyone, including men.” She dispelled the misconceptions about feminism, asserting that it is key to societal progress.
