The National Human Rights Commission, in collaboration with a coalition of non-governmental organizations, has issued a strategic call to the Federal Government for the immediate development and implementation of an “enhanced and inclusive” economic empowerment policy specifically designed for women. During a high-level advocacy dialogue held in Abuja on Wednesday, April 22, 2026, the Executive Secretary of the NHRC, Dr. Tony Ojukwu (SAN), maintained that the current economic frameworks in the country often overlook the “peculiar barriers” faced by women in accessing credit, land ownership, and high-level digital skills. The Commission argued that without a “deliberate and gender-sensitive” policy, the nation’s poverty alleviation programs will continue to yield “sub-optimal results” due to the exclusion of over fifty percent of its productive population.
The advocacy group, which includes representatives from the “Women in Management, Business, and Public Service” (WIMBIZ) and other gender-focused NGOs, argued that the “feminization of poverty” in Nigeria is a direct result of “structural exclusion” rather than a lack of industry among women. Supporting context from the dialogue indicates that the proposed policy seeks to “mandate a 35% quota” for women in all federal agricultural and entrepreneurial grants. Dr. Ojukwu noted that “economic rights are human rights,” and the “systemic deprivation” of women’s access to financial independence is a “violation of their fundamental dignity.” The coalition urged the Ministry of Women Affairs and the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning to “harmonize their data” to ensure that “inclusive empowerment” becomes a “measurable deliverable” in the 2027 fiscal year.
Stakeholder reactions to the call have been “broadly supportive,” with many female entrepreneurs noting that “access to collateral” remains the biggest hurdle for women in business. The Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) has pledged to “partner with the NHRC” to develop a “mentorship framework” that prepares women for the “realities of the formal economy.” Conversely, some economic analysts have cautioned that a “stand-alone policy” might be insufficient if the “legal barriers” to land ownership and inheritance are not first addressed at the state level. They maintained that “empowerment without legal protection” is “unsustainable.” The Federal Government has reportedly “acknowledged the petition,” with a promise to “review the existing National Gender Policy” to reflect these “emerging economic demands.”
Social and legal analysts observe that the “NHRC-NGO Alliance” represents a “maturing of the advocacy space” in Nigeria, moving from “awareness to policy demand.” Experts suggest that “inclusive economic empowerment” is the “ultimate antidote” to gender-based violence, as financial independence gives women the “agency to leave abusive environments.” They argue that the “economic cost of gender exclusion” is a “national burden” that Nigeria can no longer afford to carry in a “competitive global market.” Analyst Dr. Udeme Etuk noted that “the NHRC is correctly framing economic empowerment as a human rights issue,” adding that “this shift in narrative is essential for securing international funding and domestic legislative support.”
The broader implications of this call point toward a “potential legislative push” for a “Women’s Economic Participation Bill” in the 10th National Assembly. By building a “multi-stakeholder coalition,” the NHRC and its partners are creating a “political momentum” that will be difficult for the administration to ignore as the election cycle approaches. This move is expected to lead to a “re-evaluation of the Central Bank of Nigeria’s intervention funds” to ensure they are “reaching the female-led SMEs” in the rural areas. As the “Ministry of Women Affairs” prepares to “host a national summit” on the issue, the focus remains on the “transparency of the proposed empowerment channels.” For the millions of women in Nigeria’s informal sector, the NHRC’s advocacy offers a “vision of a future” where their “economic contribution is recognized, protected, and promoted.”
