CBW Africa seeks partnership with women affairs ministry to boost women-owned enterprises
The Continental President of Commonwealth Business Women Africa (CBW Africa), Mrs. Ngozi Oyewole, has reiterated the need to position Nigerian women-owned enterprises at the forefront of public procurement, industrial growth
The Continental President of Commonwealth Business Women Africa (CBW Africa), Mrs. Ngozi Oyewole, has reiterated the need to position Nigerian women-owned enterprises at the forefront of public procurement, industrial growth and value-chain development.
Oyewole made this known during a visit to the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim, as part of her strategic engagement with policymakers and other stakeholders.
She asserted that the strategic visit to the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs was to strengthen institutional collaboration and advance a more coordinated national framework for women’s economic and leadership empowerment.
She stressed that the engagement aimed at ensuring Nigerian women-owned enterprises are not just participating in the economy but are positioned at the forefront of public procurement, industrial growth, and value-chain development.
According to Oyewole, who also serves as the Vice Chair of the Governing Council of the Industrial Training Fund (ITF), the discussions focused on exploring structured pathways for scaling women-led businesses beyond the micro and SME levels.
“Second, to explore structured pathways for scaling women-led businesses from micro and SME levels into corporate supply chains, government contracting ecosystems, and export-ready enterprises,” she said.
“Third, to advocate for stronger monitoring and accountability mechanisms that measure real impact, not just participation numbers. Representation without economic power is incomplete. Our women must be resourced, equipped, and integrated into national development planning in tangible ways,” she stated.
She explained that the meeting addressed the importance of capacity building, certification readiness, access to finance, digital inclusion and governance structures that would make women-owned businesses competitive and sustainable within Nigeria’s evolving economic landscape.
Oyewole further advocated stronger monitoring and accountability systems to ensure measurable outcomes in women’s economic participation.
The meeting also highlighted the need for mentorship pipelines, intergenerational leadership development and boardroom readiness, emphasizing that economic empowerment must translate into influence, decision-making power and policy voice.
Describing the visit as purposeful, Oyewole noted that it was designed to bridge policy and enterprise.
“This visit was not ceremonial; it was intentional. It was about bridging policy with enterprise. It was about connecting grassroots women to national systems. It was about ensuring that collaboration between civil society, business networks, and government produces measurable outcomes.
“Most importantly, it was about one clear conviction: when Nigerian women rise, Nigeria rises."
“We remain committed to working hand-in-hand with the Ministry to deliver structured, scalable, and sustainable impact for women across the nation,” she added.
In her remarks, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman Ibrahim, reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to women’s economic empowerment, stressing her resolve to produce women millionaires through institutional support and skills acquisition initiatives.
She welcomed the proposal for strategic partnerships, noting that such collaborations would transform the lives of women across Nigeria.
The engagement also focused on strengthening cross-border collaboration, expanding market access for Nigerian women entrepreneurs and deepening partnerships that position women at the forefront of economic growth across Africa and the Commonwealth.
Additionally, both parties discussed preparations for the forthcoming 70th Session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW70) at the United Nations Headquarters in New York, scheduled for March 11–19, 2026. The Minister is expected to host a Nigeria Day event on March 12 as part of the global gathering.
The CBW Africa Continental President was accompanied on the visit by the National Coordinator of the Association of Nigeria Women Business Network (ANWBN), Princess Omotola Omole, and the Coordinator of the Abuja Chapter of CBW Africa, Dr. Sarah Areo.