The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has announced plans to support Nigerian women in becoming stronger contributors to household income, food production, and national economic growth.
The minister revealed this during a meeting with the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Ayo Sotinrin, in Abuja, where both parties discussed possible partnerships focused on women empowerment and agricultural development.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim explained that one of the biggest challenges facing many women entrepreneurs is limited access to funding, despite their skills, determination, and ability to build successful businesses.
She said many women already have the knowledge and capacity to grow in agriculture, processing, and production but require financial support, equipment, and opportunities to expand.
According to the minister, the goal is not only to assist small-scale farmers but also to help existing women-led businesses grow into stronger economic ventures that can create jobs and improve family welfare.
She highlighted ongoing government initiatives, including the Women Agricultural Empowerment Programme and the Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up, which are designed to strengthen women’s participation in agriculture and food-related businesses.
The minister said collaboration with the Bank of Agriculture would help close funding gaps and provide more opportunities for women to increase production and income.
She pointed out that many rural women work extremely hard on farms and businesses but often receive limited financial benefits, adding that targeted investment could transform their economic situation.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim also highlighted challenges affecting women in areas such as agro-processing, storage, packaging, and manufacturing, stressing that support is needed across the entire business value chain.
She disclosed that over 33,000 women have already shown interest in receiving support to expand their businesses through the WAVE Programme.
Speaking at the meeting, BOA Managing Director Ayo Sotinrin said women play a major role in Nigeria’s agricultural sector and remain important to achieving food security and economic development.
He said the bank is working on women-focused financing programmes aimed at improving access to loans, markets, and financial inclusion.
Sotinrin added that the partnership with the ministry would help support women farmers, entrepreneurs, and agro-processors while strengthening rural economies across Nigeria.
The collaboration is expected to create more opportunities for women to expand businesses, increase productivity, and contribute more significantly to national economic growth.
