National
IWD: FG Calls For Gender-Responsive Policies To Close Economic Gap
By Abubakar Yunusa
The Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy, Hannatu Musa Musawa has called on governments to implement gender-responsive policies and ensure equal access to education, finance, and leadership opportunities, saying such measures could add $12 trillion to the global economy by 2025.
Speaking at the Junior Chamber International (JCI) Business Meeting in Abuja on Sunday, in commemoration of International Women’s Day, Munasawa, represented by Khadija Ali, a presidential aide on industry, stressed that gender equality is not just a women’s issue but a societal and economic imperative.
“Studies show that closing the gender gap could add $12 trillion to the global economy by 2025. To achieve this, we must all play our part,” she said.
“Governments must implement gender-responsive policies, businesses must commit to diversity and inclusion, and civil society must challenge cultural norms that limit women’s potential.”
Munasawa highlighted the role of creative industries in advancing gender equality, saying she had witnessed first-hand how art, culture, and tourism could empower women and drive inclusive economic growth.
However, she acknowledged that systemic barriers continued to hinder women’s full participation in various spheres of life.
“Africa is a continent of resilience and promise, and Nigerian women are at the heart of our national progress,” she said.
“Yet, the World Economic Forum’s 2024 Global Gender Gap Report ranks Nigeria 124th out of 146 countries, with a gender gap closure rate of just 62.5%. This represents millions of women being denied access to opportunities that could unlock their full potential.”
She called for a shift from gender-neutral policies to intentional strategies that actively level the playing field, as well as greater representation of women in cultural narratives.
“The media and entertainment industries must challenge outdated stereotypes and promote diverse, empowering representations of women,” she said.
“When women see themselves in leadership roles, they are inspired to pursue their own ambitions fearlessly.”
In her keynote address, Dr Stella Okotete, Executive Director of Business Development at the Nigerian Export-Import Bank (NEXIM), underscored the importance of engaging men and boys as allies in the push for gender equality.
“We must challenge social and cultural norms together,” she said.
“We must also strengthen legal protections, ensuring the enforcement of laws against gender-based violence, discrimination, and workplace inequality.”
Okotete urged institutions to be held accountable for implementing gender-responsive policies while calling on women to support one another.
“We must lead the crusade for gender equality by loving and supporting one another. Women in workplaces should see each other as sisters and partners, not competitors,” she said.
She also highlighted progress made by young women in Nigerian politics, noting that female commissioners were now serving in 20 states, alongside young female legislators and councillors in several All Progressives Congress (APC)-governed states.
“We are witnessing a new wave of female leadership in Nigeria, and we must continue to build on this momentum,” she said.
JCI Aso’s 2025 local president, Ambassador Felix Akinyemi, said the event served as a reminder of the remarkable progress women had made across various fields, including science, technology, business, and leadership.
“While we recognise the incredible progress made towards empowering women, we also acknowledge the work that still lies ahead,” he said.
He noted that the event featured a dynamic panel session with inspiring women driving positive change in their communities and a keynote speech aimed at accelerating action towards gender inclusivity.
“At JCI Aso, we believe that empowering women is essential to empowering our community. We are committed to creating a more inclusive and equitable society, where everyone has the opportunity to thrive,” he added.
By Abubakar Yunusa
Dr Yusuf John Suberu, founder of the Dr Yusuf John Suberu Foundation, has congratulated Nigeria on being honoured with the prestigious Kofi Annan Road Safety Award at a ceremony in Eswatini.
The award recognises the country’s significant progress in reducing road crashes and improving safety..
The accolade, celebrated by stakeholders across the continent, highlights Nigeria’s dedication to improving road safety standards.
Dr. Yusuf John Suberu, founder of the Dr. Yusuf John Suberu Foundation, attended the event and engaged with prominent figures, including the Ministers of Transportation from Cameroon and Eswatini, as well as Mr. John Todd, the United Nations Envoy on Road Safety.
The foundation, which focuses on poverty alleviation, education, and health, praised the Federal Government’s achievement as a milestone in fostering safer communities.
“This award reflects Nigeria’s unwavering commitment to road safety, a cause that resonates deeply with our mission to empower and uplift communities,” Dr. Suberu said in a statement.
“We commend the government and reaffirm our support for initiatives promoting sustainable development and safety.”
The Dr. Yusuf John Suberu Foundation has impacted over 5,000 individuals in the past year through its programmes and aims to train 500 youths in the Federal Capital Territory with skills for financial independence and self-employment.
The organisation views the award as a testament to the power of collective action in driving meaningful change.
The foundation expressed its eagerness to deepen collaboration with government bodies, international organisations, and local stakeholders to advance road safety and community development across Nigeria.
The Nigerian Army has appointed Lieutenant Colonel Anele Onyinyechi Appolonia as the Acting Director, Army Public Relations — the first woman to hold the position.
Anele, a member of Direct Regular Course 15 and the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR), takes over from Major General Onyema Nwachukwu, who has been posted to the Nigerian Army Heritage and Future Centre. Her appointment takes effect from April 22, 2025.
Before this elevation, Lt. Col. Anele completed a six-month strategic course at the Nigerian Army Resource Centre and was subsequently posted to the Department of Civil-Military Relations.
She has previously served as Public Relations Officer in the Office of the Chief of Army Staff. Until her new role, she was with the Department of Civil-Military Relations.
Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele
Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reform Committee, Mr Taiwo Oyedele
The Chairman of the Presidential Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms Committee, Taiwo Oyedele, has said the Tax Reform Bill would curb poverty and empower ordinary Nigerians.
Oyedele made this known at the Spokespersons’ Summit, organised by the Nigerian Institute of Public Relations (NIPR) in Abuja.
He expressed strong optimism about the sweeping changes the bill would bring, especially for the low-income earners and small businesses across the country.
The chairman said that key highlights of the reform included the exemption of low-income earners from paying the Personal Income Tax (PAYE) and the removal of VAT from basic essentials such as food, education, and healthcare.
Oyedele added that it included a zero per cent Corporate Income Tax (CIT) rate for small businesses, adding that the bill had great benefits, especially for the masses, although it was welcomed with misconceptions and attacks.
He said, “This is because the issues of tax and taxation are not the most attractive to the ordinary persons because it is hard to part with your money.
“It is even harder when you part with your money and you cannot tell what exactly government is using it for that benefits you.”
Oyedele said the approach for the reform was to try and understand what the issues were and where the problems were coming from.
He added, “Then we will use data to engage with the people and design a solution for Nigeria that is made by Nigerians for the Nigerian people.
“That is exactly what we have done with the tax reform bill which is now nearing passage for the President to sign.”
According to Oyedele, the government is positive that as soon as implementation begins, Nigerians will see the real positive impact on their day-to-day living including low income earners being exempted from taxes.
“This is because, we want Nigerians to be able to create wealth and become successful, when they make it big time, then they will pay taxes, not the other way round.
“So, we believe that this message is resonating with the Nigerian people, it is still a long way to go but we are happy to continue with the journey,” he said.
Oyedele commended NIPR for putting the summit together and for discussing issues of government policies for the clearer understanding of Nigerians.
The President and Chairman of Council, NIPR, Dr Ike Neliaku, said the communication ecosystem should always be considered when formulating any government policy.
Neliaku said this was because the communicators have the gift of communicating even the most difficult policies to the people.
He added that they would look at such policies and guide strategic communication, adding, “which is the when,what,how where which it answers all those questions.
“So, when you say this is what we want to do,how best should we do it?it is the work of the experts and not quacks, those trained to come up with the strategies to communicate that.
“The tax reform is what this nation needs at this point but it was essentially misunderstood because of the way it was introduced and the mischief makers took advantage of that to do what they want.”
Neliaku said that was why NIPR and its partners in the communication ecosystem had promised to work with the government to develop a tax communication framework.
He said that it was also being done in the areas of climate action, Science communication and across many sectors to communicate reforms so that the child is not killed even before it is birthed.
He encouraged spokespersons to acquire knowledge, understand trends and issues in order to be effective and to speak well and informed.
Dr Nkechi Ali-Balogu, a Fellow of NIPR, said that there was need to view taxation with the gender lens, adding that there was need to make exemptions for women.
Ali-Balogun said that most women were bread winners these days as well as single mothers should enjoy tax exemption to empower them to provide for their families.
She commended NIPR for organising the summit, adding that it had broadened her horizon on national issues.(NAN)