Stakeholders have emphasized the need for women-friendly policies in the public sector to enhance opportunities for women in Nigeria.

This was disclosed at the Women of Divine Destiny Initiative (WODDI) Inspiring Women Summit (WIWS) 2025, held in Abuja on Saturday.

The summit, with the theme: “Bold Moves, Boundless Impact,” brought together notable figures who shared their insights on empowering women and fostering leadership roles across various sectors.

Addressing journalists at the event, the United Nations Women’s Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Beatrice Enyong, called for a collaborative effort between the private and public sectors to improve women’s opportunities.

According to her, while the private sector has shown significant improvement in the area of women empowerment, the public sector still has a long way to go in bridging the gender disparity gaps.

“The private sector is actually showing a very good example in terms of leadership because in the private sector, we have about at least 20% or 22% of CEOs who are women.

“If you look at the National Assembly, it’s just 5%, but the private sector is showing a good example. We are not yet there, but we will get there,” she remarked.

She therefore noted efforts being made by the UN to adopt women empowerment principles, which aim to promote equal opportunities and prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.

“We have very big work we are doing, UN Women, with the private sector. We have over 200 private enterprises that have adopted what we call women empowerment principles.

“Those women empowerment principles begin from how you recruit both men and women. When they enter the enterprise, there are job opportunities. They look at sexual harassment. So I shouldn’t get a promotion because I give sex to somebody, and somebody should not block me because I refuse to give sex.

“And then within the enterprise, I’m still a woman. I can have my children, have maternity leave, have flexible working hours, and also it looks at how women and men grow within the enterprises. And it also looks at the outreach of the enterprises,” she said.

Earlier in her opening remarks, the Founder, WODDI, Nkechi Rochas Okorocha, said the summit is never just a mere gathering but a call to action for women to start making bold moves and challenge the status quo.

“It is a challenge to every woman here, including me, to stop waiting, stop second-guessing, and start moving boldly.

‘Bold Moves, Boundless Impact’ is not just a theme. It is a demand. It dares us to break through ceilings, defy expectations, and step fully into our power. It reminds us that playing small does not serve us, and fear has no place where purpose exists.

“Many dreams die not because they are impossible, but because people prefer the comfort of their comfort zones. We tell ourselves to wait for the right time, for more confidence, for permission, but the truth is, playing it safe has never changed the world. It is bold moves that shift destinies, that break barriers, that turn ordinary lives into extraordinary legacies,” Okorocha admonished.

Also speaking, the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, who was represented by her Special Assistant, Technical, on Women Affairs and Community Engagement, Princess Joan Idonije, described the summit as an inspiring event that encourages women to find their purpose.

“The theme speaks to every woman. It talks about taking the bold move, moving from your comfort zone to dare the odds and find your place,” Suleiman-Ibrahim said.

She also highlighted the government’s commitment to providing equal opportunities for women, stating, “What the women are asking is not equality in terms of sexes, but equality in terms of appointments and representation.”

WIWS is an annual event focused on empowering and inspiring women. The summit provides a platform for dynamic speakers, networking opportunities, and transformative experience.