By Chioma Vivian James
Abuja witnessed a remarkable gathering of some of Nigeria’s most influential women on Thursday as political leaders, business executives, development advocates, entrepreneurs, and policymakers converged for the official launch of the Business Women of Influence for the Renewed Hope Agenda (BWI-RHA), a platform designed to harness the power of women as catalysts for economic transformation, social inclusion, and national development.
Held under the theme “Together We Are Driving a New Hope,” the event transcended the ceremonial unveiling of a new organization. It became a rallying point for conversations around women’s leadership, entrepreneurship, economic empowerment, political participation, and the critical role women must play in shaping Nigeria’s future.
The launch attracted a distinguished audience that included the organization’s Matron and Iyalode of Lagos, Chief Dr. Mrs. Bintu-Fatima Tinubu; former First Lady of Kano State, Mrs. Fatima Shekarau; representatives of the Presidency; leaders of women’s groups; political stakeholders; traditional rulers; business leaders; development partners; and advocates for disability inclusion.
Throughout the event, a recurring message resonated across speeches and presentations: Nigeria’s aspirations for sustainable growth and prosperity cannot be achieved without empowering women to participate fully in economic and governance processes.
WOMEN EMPOWERMENT AS AN ECONOMIC STRATEGY
One of the strongest declarations of the day came from the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who described women’s empowerment not as a social intervention but as a critical economic policy.
Represented by the Chairman of the Governing Council of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD), Dr. Joan Jummai Idonije, the minister emphasized that empowering women remains central to the administration’s vision for national development.
“Women’s empowerment is not charity; it is a strategic economic policy,” she declared.
According to her, government programmes are already making tangible impacts across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas through entrepreneurship development initiatives, financial inclusion programmes, skills acquisition schemes, and targeted interventions for vulnerable populations.
Her remarks underscored a growing recognition among policymakers that women represent one of Nigeria’s most underutilized economic assets. By investing in women-owned enterprises and expanding opportunities for female entrepreneurs, governments can unlock significant economic growth and improve household welfare nationwide.
THE BIRTH OF A MOVEMENT
For the Founder and Director-General of BWI-RHA, Dr. Ngozi Oyewole, FITD, the launch signified far more than the creation of another advocacy platform.
Addressing participants, she described the initiative as a movement designed to mobilize women across sectors and regions toward a common goal of national transformation through enterprise, leadership, innovation, and social impact.
“Today, we are launching more than an organisation; we are launching a force for empowerment, enterprise and leadership,” she stated.
Dr. Oyewole explained that the organization would focus on mentoring women entrepreneurs, facilitating access to business opportunities, promoting leadership development, supporting skills acquisition programmes, and advocating policies that improve the welfare of women, children, and vulnerable populations.
She noted that despite their enormous contributions to society, many Nigerian women continue to encounter barriers that limit access to finance, business networks, leadership opportunities, and decision-making spaces.
According to her, BWI-RHA intends to bridge these gaps by creating support systems capable of helping women realize their full potential.
“Our vision is to build a strong network of empowered women who are equipped with the skills, resources and opportunities necessary to thrive in business, leadership and public service,” she said.
She further reaffirmed the organization’s support for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, expressing confidence that ongoing reforms would create new opportunities for economic growth and social development.
A NATIONAL INVESTMENT IN WOMEN’S POTENTIAL
Adding political weight to the occasion, APC National Chairman Nentawe Yilwatda Goshwe threw his support behind the initiative, describing women as indispensable partners in nation-building and economic transformation.
According to him, the objectives of BWI-RHA align closely with the Renewed Hope Agenda’s emphasis on expanding entrepreneurship, financial inclusion, and economic opportunities.
“Empowering women is an economic necessity and a strategic investment in national progress,” he said.
He commended the organization for creating a platform that would deepen mentorship, enterprise development, networking opportunities, and leadership growth for women nationwide.
His remarks reflected an increasing consensus among policymakers and political leaders that empowering women is not merely about social justice but also about unlocking economic productivity and strengthening national competitiveness.
WOMEN AS BUILDERS of FAMILIES, COMMUNITIES AND NATIONS
In her keynote intervention, Chief Dr. Mrs. Bintu-Fatima Tinubu described the launch as a major milestone in efforts to strengthen women-led businesses and expand opportunities for women across Nigeria.
She praised the vision behind BWI-RHA and commended its leadership for bringing together accomplished women from diverse sectors under a shared commitment to national progress.
According to her, women occupy strategic positions in society and remain indispensable contributors to economic and social development.
“When women succeed, families prosper, communities flourish and nations grow,” she stated.
She challenged members of the organization to move beyond networking and become active agents of change within their communities.
The Iyalode of Lagos particularly emphasized the need to ensure that empowerment programmes reach women in rural and underserved communities.
She argued that true empowerment can only be achieved when opportunities are accessible regardless of geography, educational attainment, or social background.
“Our mission must be to connect opportunities to every woman, irrespective of her location or background,” she added.
Inclusion Must Go Beyond Gender
A defining feature of the launch was its emphasis on inclusivity beyond traditional gender advocacy.
Representing the Presidency, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on Special Needs and Equal Opportunities, Hon. Mohammed Abba Isa, highlighted the importance of ensuring that women with disabilities and other marginalized groups are not excluded from national development efforts.
In a speech delivered during the event, he emphasized that meaningful development can only occur when inclusivity forms the foundation of public policy and institutional frameworks.
“True development can only be achieved when inclusivity forms the foundation of our policies, programmes and institutions,” he said.
He noted that the Renewed Hope Agenda places strong emphasis on economic inclusion, social justice, human capital development, and equitable access to opportunities.
According to him, women with disabilities possess immense talent and capacity that should be harnessed for national growth.
He further commended BWI-RHA for creating a platform capable of amplifying the voices of women across all sectors and pledged to communicate the organization’s achievements and contributions to President Tinubu.
His remarks received widespread applause from participants who agreed that inclusive development requires deliberate efforts to ensure that no one is left behind.
RENEWING CALLS FOR GREATER POLITICAL REPRESENTATION
The launch also became a platform for renewed advocacy for women’s political participation.
Representatives of women’s organizations, including the National Council of Women’s Societies (NCWS), expressed concern over the continued underrepresentation of women in elective and appointive positions despite their contributions to national development.
They called for stronger support systems that would encourage women to contest elections, assume leadership positions, and participate more actively in governance.
Participants argued that greater female representation would not only improve gender balance but also strengthen democratic institutions through more inclusive decision-making processes.
The consensus among speakers was clear: women must continue building networks, mentoring younger generations, and supporting one another in the pursuit of leadership opportunities.
A NEW CHAPTER FOR WOMEN’S LEADERSHIP
AS the ceremony concluded with prayers for peace, unity, and national prosperity, participants expressed optimism that BWI-RHA would emerge as a significant force in advancing women’s empowerment and national development.
For many attendees, the event symbolized the beginning of a broader movement aimed at transforming influence into impact.
The launch demonstrated that women across political, economic, and social divides are increasingly united around a shared vision of empowerment, inclusion, entrepreneurship, and nation-building.
As Nigeria navigates complex economic and social challenges, initiatives such as BWI-RHA are positioning women not merely as beneficiaries of development programmes but as architects of the nation’s future.
If the enthusiasm, commitment, and determination displayed at the Abuja launch are sustained, the Business Women of Influence for the Renewed Hope Agenda may well become one of the most influential platforms driving women’s economic advancement and inclusive national development in contemporary Nigeria.
