By Stella Okoh-Esene
In a significant push for gender equality, the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, fsi has attended the Combined National Project Steering Committee Meeting, emphasizing the crucial role of women in agriculture, food security, and nutrition.
The meeting which was held at the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security Headquarters, brought together project coordinators to report on their 2024 progress and request approval for their 2025 projects. Minister Imaan urged the coordinators to create budget lines for women’s affairs, focusing on profiling women and families, monitoring, and sensitization. She also advocated for increased spending on sensitization, advocacy and media.
The Minister’s efforts align with the Presidential Renewed Hope Agenda, aiming to amplify initiatives that promote gender equality and women’s empowerment. Her leadership has ensured that women’s issues are prioritized in project components, and that gender perspectives are integrated into communication strategies.
The Honourable Minister’s commitment to gender inclusion has been assured by the Honourable Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security, Sen. Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi who pledged to make necessary adjustments. The project coordinators subsequently requested approval for their scaled-up budgets and expanded work plan for 2025.
This development marks a significant step towards promoting gender equality in Nigeria’s agricultural sector. At the meeting, Minister Imaan emphasized, integrating gender perspectives and enhancing communication are crucial in achieving milestones under the Presidential Renewed Hope Agenda.