The special adviser to President Bola Tinubu on policy and coordination, Hadiza Bala-Usman, has said Nigeria’s development aspirations can only be achieved with the inclusion of women in the executive, legislative, and other institutions of government.

Ms Bala-Usman called for a deliberate provision of opportunities in government for the empowerment, inclusion and leadership advancement of women across the country.

Speaking while delivering a keynote address at the 2026 Young Women’s Leadership Conference (YWLC) held in Abuja on Tuesday, she described the involvement of women in leadership as “not a social courtesy, but a development necessity.” 

He stressed that national growth depended  on how effectively women were equipped to innovate, influence policy and create measurable impact.

She noted that the government had a responsibility to ensure that women’s inclusion becomes a “part of delivery and not an afterthought.”

She added that it could be achieved through gender-responsive planning and budgeting, safer schools and communities, stronger implementation of protection policies, expanded access to skills acquisition and enterprise support, as well as deliberate pathways for women to contribute to governance and national development.

“The legislature and public institutions also have crucial roles in strengthening laws, policies and accountability mechanisms that expand opportunities for women. Legal frameworks are only as powerful as their implementation,” Mrs Bala-Usman said.

She also condemned discriminatory practices against women in public institutions, citing instances where female public servants were required to obtain spousal consent before being allocated official housing. 

She also faulted policies denying maternity leave to unmarried women.

“A nation that relies on its women being able to endure more than it enables them to lead is wasting capacity,” she added.

The third edition of the conference, had the theme, “Innovate, Influence, Impact: Accelerating Young Women’s Roles in National Development.” 

It was organised by the Citizenship and Leadership Training Centre (CLTC) under the leadership of its director general, Rinsola Abiola, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Youth Development, Eagles Foundation for Humanity, the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM Bank), the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI), Sapphital, the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) Nigeria chapter and the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC).

In her welcome remarks, Mrs Abiola said the initiative reflects the Federal Government’s commitment to youth and women empowerment under the administration of Mr Tinubu.

She noted that since the initiative was launched in 2024, more than 1,500 young women had benefited from leadership, entrepreneurship and mentorship opportunities provided through the programme.

She stated that 20 participants selected after the 2025 edition received intensive business and leadership training, alongside grants of N500,000 each to scale their businesses, resulting in business expansion and job creation.

“This 2026 conference was designed to deepen conversations around leadership, governance, entrepreneurship and technology, while encouraging young women to participate more actively in nation-building,” Mrs Abiola said. 

Also, speaking at the event, chairwoman and chief executive officer of the Nigerians in Diaspora Commission, Abike Dabiri-Erewa, urged women to prioritise competence, hard work and professionalism over appearances.

She encouraged young women to participate actively in politics and public service, advocating stronger mentorship platforms to support women seeking leadership positions.