Odimmegwa Johnpeter/Abuja
The Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment (FMITI) marked this year’s International Women’s Day with a special programme in Abuja focused on expanding opportunities for women within the ministry and strengthening their role in trade, entrepreneurship, and national economic development. This was contained in a statement signed by Augustina Obilor-Duru, Head, Press, and Public Relations, FMITI.
Speaking at the event, the Honourable Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, Dr. Jumoke Oduwole, MFR, underscored the importance of equipping women with the right knowledge and tools to take full advantage of government policies and emerging economic opportunities. She urged women across the ministry to actively explore prospects in agribusiness, manufacturing, and export trade while leveraging available grants, funding programmes, and cooperative initiatives designed to support enterprise growth.
“The future of Nigeria’s economy will be shaped by how well we empower women to participate fully in trade, industry, and investment,” the Minister said.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Amb. Nura Abba Rimi acknowledged the progress made in promoting gender inclusion within the ministry, noting that despite funding constraints, the leadership remains committed to sustaining initiatives that support women.
“Even with the funding challenges we face, our commitment to ensuring that women-focused programmes remain a priority in this ministry has not wavered,” he stated.
Earlier in her presentation, the Head of the Gender Unit, Hauwa Usman Sarki, explained that the programme was designed to expose women staff to strategic policies, mentorship opportunities, and practical pathways for entrepreneurship and innovation within the industry, trade, and investment ecosystem.
“Our goal is to equip women with practical knowledge, mentorship, and the confidence needed to translate policy opportunities into real economic empowerment,” she said.
Also speaking at the event, the Director of the Industrial Inspectorate Department highlighted the vast opportunities available to women entrepreneurs through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which opens access to a market of over 1.3 billion people across Africa. She further drew attention to initiatives such as the Women Exporters in the Digital Economy programme, which supports women-owned businesses through digital trade platforms.
“The AfCFTA presents a historic opportunity for women entrepreneurs to scale their businesses beyond borders and compete across the African market,” she noted.
Other speakers at the programme encouraged women to embrace continuous learning, digital innovation, and multiple income streams as essential tools for staying competitive in an evolving global economy.
The ministry reaffirmed its commitment to supporting women through policies, training programmes, and capacity-building initiatives aimed at strengthening their participation in trade, industry, and investment.
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