Experts and advocates have issued a stark warning that Nigeria's national development faces significant slowdowns if the country fails to address the systemic exclusion of women from key economic and political spheres. This urgent call was made during an event in Abuja marking the fifth anniversary of the Prudent Women Multipurpose Society.
Identifying the Critical Gaps Holding Women Back
At the heart of the discussions was a clear analysis of the barriers preventing women's advancement. Hansatu Adegbite, a gender advocate and National Consultant on Private Sector Partnerships for UN Women, pinpointed three fundamental gaps. She emphasized that while government programmes exist, an information gap prevents many women from knowing about or accessing them.
"The second major hurdle is a resource gap," Adegbite explained. "Available resources are often insufficient for the population's needs, and access remains limited." She identified the third critical barrier as a skills gap, noting that women need diverse competencies to thrive in business and professional life.
Adegbite also addressed financial challenges, stating that although some lenders offer lower rates to women, many loan products are still unaffordable or poorly suited to their needs.
Grassroots Models and the Call for Systemic Change
The event also featured the unveiling of '100 Prudent Women: A Compendium of the Most Inspirational Biographies'. Speakers highlighted how grassroots initiatives are filling voids left by formal systems. Halima Usman, Founder of the Halima Factor Community Initiative and Technical Assistant to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), argued that the rapid growth of women's cooperatives directly results from the absence of reliable support structures.
"A country cannot survive or grow if half of its population is not empowered," Usman stated. She praised the Prudent Women model for evolving from a small cooperative into a multi-dimensional network fostering resilience, confidence, and economic independence.
The Path Forward: Advocacy, Assets, and Political Inclusion
Msurshima Comfort Chenge, President and Founder of the Prudent Women Cooperative, reflected on the organisation's five-year journey. She announced that the newly launched Prudent Women Advancement and Advocacy Foundation (PWAAF) will focus on advocacy, education, and rights for girls and women to drive nationwide gender parity.
Chenge outlined ambitious next steps, aiming to support women in acquiring homes, land, educational resources, and long-term assets. However, she expressed deep concern over the continued underrepresentation of women in public office. "If women are given opportunities, they lead with integrity," Chenge asserted. "We are asking the government to include more women in important positions because women deliver accountability and excellence."
The consensus among all stakeholders was unequivocal: Nigeria's journey towards meaningful growth and development remains incomplete and will be persistently hampered without deliberate, coordinated, and sustained efforts to empower its entire female population.
