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“The media and entertainment industries must challenge outdated stereotypes and promote diverse, empowering representations of women,” she said.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.

The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has filed a lawsuit against the Senate President, Mr Godswill Akpabio over “the failure to reverse the patently unlawful suspension of Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, as the purported suspension is based solely on the peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression.”

Mr Akpabio is sued for himself and on behalf of all members of the Senate.

The Senate recently suspended Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan for six months, after she reportedly ‘spoke without permission’ and ‘refused her new seat in the Senate chamber.’

Her salary and allowances have also been withheld for the duration of the suspension, and she has been barred from identifying herself as a senator.

In the suit numbered FHC/ABJ/CS/498/2025, filed last Friday at the Federal High Court, Abuja, SERAP is seeking: “an order of mandamus to direct and compel Mr Akpabio to rescind the unlawful suspension of Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, reinstate her, and fully restore all her legislative rights, entitlements, and privileges.”

SERAP is seeking “an order of perpetual injunction restraining the Senate from further suspending or taking any disciplinary action against Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan solely for the peaceful exercise of her fundamental human rights.”

It is also seeking “a declaration that the application of sections 6(1)(2) of the Senate Rules, the Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as amended), to suspend Mrs Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan violates her human rights and deprives her constituents of their right to political participation.”

In the suit, SERAP argues that “granting this application would serve the public interest and promote respect for the rights of everyone in the National Assembly.”

It said, “No one should ever be punished for ‘speaking without permission’. Being a senator does not deprive Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan of her fundamental human rights. The Senate should be setting an example by upholding the rule of law and promoting and protecting human rights, not stamping them out.

“Punishing Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan solely for peacefully expressing herself is unlawful, unnecessary and disproportionate. Her suspension would also have a disproportionate chilling effect on the ability of other members of the Senate to freely express themselves and exercise their human rights.

“Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s suspension is based solely on the peaceful exercise of her right to freedom of expression in the Senate. All the other grounds cited by the Senate for her suspension seem to be a pretext to further restrict her fundamental human rights.”

The suit filed on behalf of SERAP by its lawyers, Kolawole Oluwadare and Mrs Adelanke Aremo, read in part: “No member of the Senate should suffer any consequences for peacefully exercising their freedom of expression.”

The organisation said the suspension of Senator Akpoti-Uduaghan from the Senate has “restricted and seriously undermined the ability of the residents of her Kogi Central Senatorial District to effectively participate in their own government”.

It said, “The Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa, in Principle II (2) provides that ‘any restrictions on freedom of expression shall be provided for by law, serve a legitimate interest and be necessary and in a democratic society’.

“Article 13 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights provides that, ‘Every citizen shall have the right to participate freely in the government of his country, either directly or through freely chosen representatives in accordance with the provisions of the law.’

“The right to express one’s opinion is of paramount importance, not only because it oils the engine of a representative democracy but also because it creates a free and open environment.

“The right to freedom of expression is a fundamental individual human right which is also a cornerstone of democracy and a means of ensuring the respect for all human rights and freedoms.

“The Human Rights Council, the body charged with monitoring implementation of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights has stressed that any limitations or restrictions to freedom of expression should be applied strictly so that they do ‘not put in jeopardy the right itself.’

“Article 19(1) of the Covenant establishes the right to freedom of opinion without interference. Article 19(2) establishes the Senate’s obligations to respect and ensure ‘the right to freedom of expression,’ which includes the freedom to seek, receive and impart information and ideas of all kinds, either orally or in writing.

“The Senate Standing Orders 2023 (as amended) should not and cannot set aside Mrs Akpoti-Uduaghan’s right to express herself and disseminate her opinions which is clearly guaranteed in section 39 of the Nigerian Constitution 1999 [as amended], and under the human rights treaties to which Nigeria is a state party.”

No date has been fixed for the hearing of the suit.

Northern-based socio-cultural group, Gamji Heritage, has scored the President Bola Tinubu-led administration high in its fight against banditry, terrorism and other forms of insecurity.

“I had said before now that we need to commend the federal government, under President Bola Tinubu, for the fight against terrorism, banditry and general insecurity,” the group’s president-general, Ahmed Abdullahi, said in a statement on Sunday.

Mr Abdullahi also advised that the fight should not be left in the hands of the government alone.

The president-general particularly said the north had no other option than to tackle the problems of insecurity, which had posed a serious challenge to the zone headlong.

“Still, there is a lot to be done. There was an exposé in America where President Donald Trump revealed the interference and sponsorship of terrorism by certain agencies of America, especially USAID.

“Our major concern in this matter is to ensure that nothing is done to undermine nations, especially the number one pride of the black race, which is Nigeria.

“Nigeria needs to make progress; Nigeria needs to be at peace, and it needs to develop and advance in the interest of Africa and the black race,’’ he said.

Mr Abdullahi said northerners were now more mindful and security conscious, helping security agencies more than before.

“Take the issue of Katsina State for example; the state government has now established a vigilance outfit which is assisting the security agencies.

“And I want to recommend this for other states because it is working and has succeeded in bringing down the rate of insecurity in the state,’’ he said.

Corroborating the concerns expressed by Mr Trump, Mr Abdullahi said some international NGOs were actually aiding and abetting banditry and terrorism in the north.

“When the state started registering the NGOs in order to closely look into their activities like in Katsina, insurgency activities went down significantly,’’ he said.

On the allegation that some traditional and community leaders were aiding and abetting banditry and terrorism in some parts of the country, he described the development as abominable and unacceptable.