The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, has underscored the critical role of public-private partnerships in advancing gender parity and empowering women.
Speaking at the 2025 International Women’s Day event organised by Nigerian Exchange Ltd (NGX) in Lagos, she stressed the need for decisive action to address the challenges limiting women’s potential.
The event, themed “Accelerate Action for All Women: Rights, Equality, Empowerment”, highlighted the significance of collaboration in fostering economic opportunities for women. Musawa referenced a report by the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), which revealed that women-owned businesses contribute $15 billion to Nigeria’s economy. Despite this, she noted, many women still struggle to access capital for their businesses.
“Building a gender-equal future requires collaboration between the public and private sectors. We must go beyond conversations and take decisive action to bridge the gender gap. It is essential to increase gender-focused investment and create tailored funding opportunities for women entrepreneurs,” Musawa stated. She commended the NGX for leveraging capital markets to channel resources into women-led businesses and gender-focused initiatives.
Group Chairman of NGX Group, Alhaji Umaru Kwairanga, echoed similar sentiments, emphasising that achieving gender equality demands deliberate and bold actions from the private sector, government, regulators, and society. He called for collaborative efforts to ensure women have seamless access to capital, highlighting that an inclusive economy is a thriving one.
Kwairanga reiterated NGX’s commitment to increasing women’s participation in the capital market through investments in education programmes and by creating mechanisms to track gender impact using data collection and analysis.
“At NGX Group, we lead by example. Achieving gender equality requires intentional efforts from regulators, the government, the private sector, and society. When we accelerate progress for women, we accelerate progress for all. An inclusive economy is a thriving economy, and empowering women is a catalyst for societal growth,” he said.
Group Chief Executive Officer of NGX Group, Temi Popoola, praised women for their contributions to the NGX ecosystem and beyond. He encouraged women to support one another, stressing that collective effort would yield greater achievements for women in various sectors.
The Managing Director of Central Securities Clearing Systems (CSCS), Haruna Jalo-Waziri, also advocated for male-female collaboration in building a more harmonious and equitable society.
Speaking on the influence of women in his upbringing, Dr Emomotimi Agama, Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), urged men to respect, honour, and support women. He praised women for their resilience, hard work, and resourcefulness.
Senior Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Entrepreneurial Development, Ms Chalya Shagaya, called for stronger collaboration between the NGX and the government to expand investment opportunities for women.
Meanwhile, Executive Commissioner of Legal and Enforcement at SEC, Franca Chukwugor, advised women to equip themselves with financial knowledge to succeed. She warned against falling for illegal investment schemes and urged women to seek out credible financial education.
Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Prof. Folasade Ogunsola, encouraged women to break social barriers and make a greater impact in society. She further advocated for public-private partnerships aimed at creating an economic environment where women can easily access capital, grants, and wealth-creation opportunities.
The event reinforced the urgent need for collaborative action to bridge gender gaps and empower women in business, finance, and leadership across Nigeria.
