At the 70th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, Nigeria took a strong stance on advancing women’s empowerment. The event, running from March 9 to 19, 2026, brings together representatives from UN member states, UN entities, and ECOSOC-accredited non-governmental organizations from across the globe.
Representing Nigeria, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, emphasized the transformative power of economic empowerment. “When a woman is empowered, the family is empowered, society is empowered, and many societal challenges are resolved,” she stated.
A key initiative highlighted by the minister was the launch of the Happy Women App, a digital platform designed to connect over 20 million women to mentoring opportunities, services, and market access. The app aims to create pathways for women to thrive economically while fostering networks of support across communities.
Discussions during the NGO CSW70 Forum side event, themed “Building the Next Generation of Female Leaders: Empowering Girls in STEM and Public Decision-Making, and Economic Empowerment as a Pathway to Justice,” underscored the importance of investing in women’s financial inclusion, leadership development, and STEM education. Stakeholders stressed that empowering women is not just a social obligation but a strategic approach to achieving justice and sustainable development.
Among the Nigerian NGOs present, the Helpline Social Support Initiative (HSSI) highlighted the critical role of empowering women and girls in building resilient societies. Dr. Jumai Ahmadu, the organisation’s founder, remarked, “The task before us is clear. We must expand women’s financial inclusion, strengthen mentorship networks, increase girls’ access to STEM education, and create leadership pathways that ensure no woman or girl is left behind.”
The outcomes of CSW70’s discussions on the priority theme are expected to shape policies and initiatives that support women’s empowerment globally, reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to promoting equality, opportunity, and justice for all women.
