Vice President Kashim Shettima has expressed optimism that women will be at the forefront of Africa’s projected $29 trillion economic transformation.

Mr Shettima spoke on Thursday in Abuja when he declared open the 2025 Gender Inclusion Conference and launched Project #SheIsIncluded to bridge gender gaps in finance and the broader economy.

The theme of the two-day conference is “Breaking Barriers, Building Resilience for Sustainable Women’s Economic and Financial Inclusion.” It is a follow-up to the 2024 Aso Accord for Economic and Financial Inclusion.

The vice president believed that gender inclusion was not merely a rhetorical commitment but a cornerstone of Nigeria’s national development agenda.

He said, “We cannot build the Nigeria or Africa we envision without fully integrating women into our economic systems.

“Women are not just participants in our economy; they are leaders, innovators, and the bedrock of sustainable development.”

According to him, project #SheIsIncluded is built on the pillars of education, financial literacy, maternal healthcare, gender-sensitive policies and programmes, as well as expanded economic opportunities for women.

He announced that the initiative would reach the 774 local government areas of Nigeria “to ensure that no woman is left behind.”

The vice president explained that the project is not just about meeting quotas but about unlocking the full potential of people to drive the broader economic goals of President Bola Tinubu’s administration.

Mr Shettima noted that the initiative would be spearheaded by the Presidential Committee on Economic and Financial Inclusion in partnership with the Ministry of Women Affairs.

He further explained that the aim of the initiative is to build an inclusive economic ecosystem where Nigerians, regardless of gender, can contribute and benefit, redouble their efforts, and align with global best practices.

The vice president urged both public and private sector stakeholders to take the opportunity to outline actionable steps toward active participation in the gender inclusion agenda.

The Chief Justice of the Federation (CJN), Justice Kudirat Kekere-Ekun, said the conference was an important milestone in the collective effort to outline ways of breaking barriers to empower women and promote inclusion.

She noted that it should translate into financial independence, wealth creation, and leadership development for women across different sectors.

The CJN assured that the judiciary, in partnership with stakeholders, would ensure that the rights of women to access economic resources and ownership of property are protected.

The UN deputy secretary-general, Amina Mohammed, said the conference marked a critical step toward Nigeria’s journey to gender inclusion, women’s empowerment, and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

She said gender equality and inclusion are not just an aspiration but a foundation for sustainable development, peace, and development worldwide.

Ms Mohammed urged all to invest in women’s empowerment, noting that when women are empowered, communities prosper, economies grow, and societies advance.

The Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Ibrahim Hadejia, said Mr Shettima’s support and push for inclusive growth resonate with everything that he has done since assuming office.

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, said the conference offers a unique opportunity to strengthen strategic frameworks for dismantling all barriers.

(NAN)