Women’s affairs minister Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim says closing gender gaps can potentially add N15 trillion to Nigeria’s GDP annually by 2025.

Ms Sulaiman-Ibrahim stated this on Thursday in Abuja at the joint UN Accountability Forum and Orange/Lighting ceremony.

She noted that studies had shown that countries with higher levels of gender equality experience faster economic growth, improved governance, and more stable societies.

“For Nigeria, closing gender gaps has the potential to add N15 trillion to our GDP annually by 2025. Women constitute 49 per cent of our population and account for 41 per cent of small and medium-scale enterprise owners.

“Yet their representation in senior leadership is just 22 per cent, with only 3.6 per cent holding seats in parliament. These disparities represent untapped potentials that, if harnessed, could drive our nation’s development forward,” stated Ms Sulaiman-Ibrahim.

The minister said the event was an opportunity to reflect on shared commitment towards advancing gender equality and ending violence against women and children.

Felicia Onibon, Nigeria Report consultant, said that over 100 pages of the ‘Nigeria Beijing Report’ contain all the activities around SDGs and the Beijing platform for action in the past five years.

While speaking on the Nigeria Beijing Report, Nesreen Elmolla, UN Women’s deputy representative, noted the huge milestone recorded in Nigeria.

According to her, the orange and lighting ceremony symbolises hope, unity, and a collective vision for a world and Nigeria free of violence.

Abdourahamane Diablo, head of office and country representative of UNESCO to Nigeria, reiterated their commitment to ending GBV, girl-child education and advancing gender equality.

Francis Koessan, deputy representative of UNFPA, called for more synergy between stakeholders, engagement with men and boys, advocacy for policy implementation to end GBV and investments in preventive measures to ensure women and girls’ safety.

(NAN)