The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has called for stronger support systems to enable Nigerian women to function as productive economic units capable of boosting growth, improving food security and reducing poverty.
She made the remarks in Abuja during a meeting with the Managing Director of the Bank of Agriculture (BOA), Ayo Sotinrin, who visited to discuss possible collaboration on women’s empowerment and agribusiness development.
According to her, limited access to financing remains one of the major barriers preventing many women from expanding their agricultural and production enterprises.
The minister noted that women already demonstrate resilience, skills and strong entrepreneurial ability, but require structured financial backing and access to productive resources to scale their businesses.
She explained that beyond supporting small-scale farmers, attention should also be given to women already engaged in production so they can expand into larger, income-generating ventures that contribute more significantly to national development.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said ongoing initiatives such as the Women Agricultural Empowerment (WAVE) Programme and the Nigeria for Women Project Scale-Up are designed to strengthen women’s economic participation.
She added that many beneficiaries of these programmes have shown strong engagement in agriculture, agro-processing and food-related businesses.
The minister stressed that collaboration with the Bank of Agriculture would help close financing gaps and enable women entrepreneurs to grow their businesses sustainably.
She also pointed to the struggles of rural women who often work long hours on farms owned by others with minimal returns, arguing that targeted investment could significantly improve their livelihoods and household income.
According to her, empowering women economically has a multiplier effect that improves nutrition, strengthens families, supports community development and boosts national productivity.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim further highlighted the challenges faced by women involved in agro-processing, storage, packaging and manufacturing, noting the need for support across the entire agricultural value chain.
She disclosed that over 33,000 women have expressed interest in accessing support under the WAVE Programme to expand their businesses.
Earlier, BOA Managing Director, Ayo Sotinrin, said women make up a significant portion of participants in Nigeria’s agricultural value chain and remain central to achieving food security and economic development goals.
He said the bank is prioritising gender-focused financing initiatives aimed at improving women’s access to credit, financial inclusion and market opportunities.
Sotinrin added that the BOA is ready to work with the ministry to design sustainable financing solutions for women farmers, processors and agribusiness operators.
He noted that the partnership would help reduce poverty, strengthen rural economies and enhance agricultural output across the country.
He further stated that the bank would collaborate with the ministry’s technical team to implement practical interventions capable of reaching millions of women nationwide.
Members of the BOA delegation included Raheena Adeleke, Strategist in the Office of the Managing Director; Renee Phil-Agbasi, Special Assistant to the Managing Director; and Mai Renti Ishaku, Head of Product Segment.