FG LINKS WOMEN’S HEALTH TO NIGERIA’S ECONOMIC GROWTH

The Federal Government has stressed that improving the health and wellbeing of women is essential to achieving Nigeria’s long-term economic development goals, including its ambition of building a $1tn economy.

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, made the remarks at the maiden edition of the Her Health, Her Power Conference Africa 2026, held in Abuja.

The conference, organised by the VickyHeldan Empowerment Foundation, brought together stakeholders from the health, development, business, media and humanitarian sectors to discuss issues surrounding women's health, empowerment and leadership.

Represented at the event by the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women’s Development, Dr Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, the minister said Nigeria's economic aspirations would be difficult to achieve without greater attention to women's health.

She emphasised that investment in women's healthcare should not be regarded as an optional area of development but as an important foundation for economic progress.

Suleiman-Ibrahim said the Federal Government was working to strengthen policies and institutions aimed at improving women's economic empowerment, promoting gender equality, supporting families and protecting women across the country.

She also called for increased cooperation between government agencies, private organisations, civil society groups, healthcare professionals and other stakeholders to address challenges affecting women's health.

According to her, discussions on women's wellbeing must be followed by practical measures capable of producing measurable improvements in communities.

Former Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, also spoke at the conference, stressing that women's health should be viewed as part of the broader conversation about economic development.

Amaechi urged political leaders and policymakers to recognise the impact that access to healthcare and education can have on women, families and communities.

Reflecting on his time as Rivers State governor, he said his administration established health centres across villages and provided medical personnel at the facilities. He also recalled a programme under which women who attended antenatal care received financial support.

The former governor maintained that political decisions have direct consequences for the wellbeing of women and families, urging leaders to prioritise hospitals, healthcare centres and other basic infrastructure.

The founder of the VickyHeldan Empowerment Foundation, Dr Victory Njoku, said the conference was created to bring together women, healthcare professionals, innovators and advocates to develop practical solutions to health and empowerment challenges.

Njoku said the foundation would take its campaign beyond the conference through community-based programmes focused on maternal health, reproductive healthcare, mental wellness, education and leadership.

She expressed optimism that the initiative would eventually grow into a wider African platform, while encouraging women to play a stronger role in decisions affecting their health, development and future.

The conference attracted healthcare practitioners, entrepreneurs, public health professionals, advocates, media practitioners and other stakeholders committed to improving women's wellbeing and empowerment across Africa.