Nigeria Launches Four Platforms to Boost Women's Economic Inclusion

Vice President Kashim Shettima announced that Nigeria cannot achieve its goal of a one-trillion-dollar economy without the full economic participation of women. Speaking at the Second National Gender Inclusion Conference in Abuja, Shettima noted a significant financial gap, reporting that only 47% of Nigerian women hold formal financial accounts compared to 58% of men.

To dismantle these structural barriers, the federal government unveiled four strategic platforms: digital trust infrastructure, data for accountability, blended finance, and the National Income Activation Initiative. These tools aim to shift the government's approach from policy declarations to an architecture of delivery, focusing on measurable targets for job creation and business expansion, particularly for women in the informal sector and rural areas.

As part of these efforts, the government highlighted the Women in Energy Partnership with the World Bank to integrate women into the energy transition. Officials emphasized that financial access is merely a starting point and must translate into actual income and changed lives to be considered successful inclusion.