The Business Women of Influence for Renewed Hope Agenda (BWI-RHA) has stated that the economic and governance reforms introduced by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu require additional time to deliver the expected benefits to Nigerians. The group made this known during a media briefing and pre-launch event in Abuja on Friday, emphasizing the importance of policy continuity for national reconstruction and economic recovery.
Group Calls for Patience on Reforms
Mrs. Ngozi Oyewole, the National Convener and Director-General of BWI-RHA, explained that the organization was created as a platform to mobilize women toward national development, economic inclusion, and enterprise. Her address was delivered by Hajia Mariah Danjuma, the Head of Public Relations of the group. Oyewole described BWI-RHA as a movement of women committed to shaping Nigeria's future through leadership, service, and economic participation.
She highlighted that women are central to nation-building and economic growth, stressing that no economy can thrive when women are excluded from opportunities and decision-making processes. “No economy can truly prosper while women remain underrepresented, underfunded, unheard or excluded from opportunity. This is why BWI-RHA was established to create a powerful national platform,” she said.
Empowerment and Inclusion Goals
Oyewole explained that the platform aims to unite market women, entrepreneurs, professionals, farmers, industrialists, creatives, women in governance, technology experts, diaspora women, and grassroots women to contribute to national development. The organization's mission includes empowering women, strengthening businesses, creating opportunities, supporting communities, promoting economic inclusion, and raising future leaders.
“When you empower a woman, you empower a family; when you empower families, you strengthen communities, and when communities are strengthened, nations rise,” she stated. The convener also called on government institutions, ministries, development partners, and the private sector to invest more deliberately in Nigerian women, noting that the country's future depends largely on women's economic participation, innovation, and leadership.
She commended the Minister of Women Affairs and women in leadership positions across government institutions for their contributions to advancing women's interests. “Women are no longer to be invited to the table of national development; we are helping to build the table,” Oyewole added.
Support for Tinubu's Reforms
Ms. Evelyn Onyilo, the Director of Media and Communications of the group, stated that members understand the long-term nature of reforms and believe the current administration's policies will eventually yield positive outcomes. According to Onyilo, the group's support for the administration is based on its conviction that sustainable reforms often require patience, consistency, and time before their impact becomes fully visible.
“We understand the ABC of reforms and that is why we want to use this platform to canvass massive votes for Tinubu to continue in 2027 so that Nigerians can fully benefit from his reforms,” she said. She disclosed that the group has begun mobilization efforts across different sectors, including market women, business women, rural women, and youths, to deepen awareness and participation. “We are putting in place foot soldiers and mobilisers to deliver on our mandate. We have structures involving market and business women, rural women, youths and others. We are not new to mobilisation projects,” Onyilo added.
