Sulaiman-Ibrahim: INSPIRE Will Turn Gender Policies into \u2018Institutional Reality\u2019<\/p>\n
The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim has charged institutions to move beyond policy documents and make the INSPIRE initiative a \u201cliving initiative\u201d that delivers real change for women in the Federal Civil Service.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the official launch of INSPIRE in Abuja on Thursday, the Minister said the _Inclusive Network for Supporting Progressive Leadership, Innovation, Reform and Equity for Women_ arrives at \u201cprecisely the right moment to drive and sustain momentum\u201d in building a civil service that is inclusive, effective, and responsive.<\/p>\n
Sulaiman-Ibrahim noted that while women form a \u201csubstantial majority\u201d of the Federal Civil Service workforce, \u201ca candid look at our senior leadership tables tells a very different story. The higher the level of decision-making, the thinner their representation becomes.\u201d<\/p>\n
She added: \u201cThis is not a coincidence. It is the consequence of a legacy system that has some structural weakness, and it is a gap we can no longer afford.\u201d<\/p>\n
Citing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the Minister stated: _\u201cThe greatest tool for sustainable and scalable transformational development of our nation is the empowerment of our women\u201d_ \u2013 a truth she said is \u201cmore urgently applicable than within the institutions responsible for governing this nation.\u201d<\/p>\n
She highlighted that \u201cwomen\u2019s economic exclusion costs Nigeria up to 37% loss in productivity,\u201d stressing that Mr President\u2019s vision of a one trillion dollar economy \u201cdemands that we act differently.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sulaiman-Ibrahim noted that INSPIRE will complement the President\u2019s call for an inclusive and future-ready civil service by creating \u201cpathways for women to assume leadership roles to help address the existing gaps at the top level of the Civil Service.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Minister aligned the Imitative with existing frameworks, saying it serves as \u201ca critical vehicle in translating that roadmap into institutional reality\u201d for the _National Gender Policy 2021-2026_ and the _Women\u2019s Economic Empowerment Policy 2023-2028_.<\/p>\n
Commending MDAs for strengthening gender desks, she said \u201cthe work is far from over\u201d and announced the Ministry\u2019s \u201cfull engagement to the successful implementation of INSPIRE,\u201d bringing \u201cpolicy leadership, technical expertise, and institutional partnerships to bear.\u201d<\/p>\n
Sulaiman-Ibrahim outlined four critical actions for institutions, partners, and the private sector: they include full implementation of the six-month maternity leave policy without exception, and establishment of workplace cr\u00e8ches alongside zero-tolerance harassment policies to make room for *dignified, equitable participation of women across all levels of the civil service*.<\/p>\n
She further charged them to mainstream gender-responsive budgeting, implement the 30% affirmative procurement policy, and invest deliberately in leadership pipelines for women through mentorship, sponsorship, and succession planning that fast-tracks qualified women into senior roles.<\/p>\n
_\u201cThe evidence is unambiguous: public institutions deliver better outcomes when they cultivate environments where employees experience dignity, safety, professional fulfilment, and equal access to opportunity,\u201d_ she said.<\/p>\n
The Minister listed maternity protection, safe workplaces, childcare support, and mental health as \u201cthe foundation of a capable, modern civil service.\u201d<\/p>\n
She thanked President Tinubu for his \u201cpolitical will and policy courage,\u201d the First Lady Senator Oluremi Tinubu, for her \u201cmentorship\u201d and \u201cpassionate advocacy,\u201d and Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Mrs. Didi Walson-Jack, for her \u201cvisionary and tireless leadership of this initiative<\/p>\n
While also appreciating Permanent Secretaries for ensuring that political will translates into action, and development partners for steadfast technical support, she said
\n_\u201cWords spoken in conferences like this must become action felt in offices, homes, and communities across Nigeria. INSPIRE must become a living initiative.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Sulaiman-Ibrahim: INSPIRE Will Turn Gender Policies into \u2018Institutional Reality\u2019 The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim has charged institutions to move beyond policy documents and make the INSPIRE initiative a \u201cliving initiative\u201d that delivers real change for women in the Federal Civil Service. Speaking at the official launch of INSPIRE […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[3033,3034,3035],"class_list":["post-150800","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","category-others","tag-hajia-sulaiman-ibrahim","tag-inspire","tag-international-civil-service-conference"],"yoast_head":"\n