The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has urged Nigerian states to translate gender and social inclusion policies into concrete action, warning that recent declines in aid are threatening the health and empowerment of millions of women and girls.
Speaking at the 2025 Gender and Inclusion Summit organised by the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) in Abuja, Ekanem Isichei, Deputy Director of Programme Advocacy and Communications at the Gates Foundation, said Nigeria cannot afford to leave gender equality at the level of strategy documents and ceremonial launches.
He noted that while the Foundation has committed $2.5 billion globally to gender equality programmes, Nigeria is grappling with a 40 per cent cut in bilateral aid and a 67 per cent drop in funding for maternal and child health.
“Since last year, bilateral aid to Nigeria has fallen by 40 per cent, and women’s health programmes were disproportionately affected,” Isichei said. “For every three women in your community, two of them will not have access to essential health commodities they had last year.”
He added that addressing gender gaps is essential to Nigeria’s long-term development. “When 70 per cent of Nigeria’s poorest are women, we cannot ignore their unique experiences in climbing out of poverty. Evidence shows that investing in women leads to healthier families, stronger economies, and more just societies.”
Isichei commended Lagos and Kaduna States for domesticating the Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Policy, describing them as examples of effective delivery. He also praised the Policy Innovation Centre for building partnerships that support inclusive policy frameworks.
Chairperson of the Nigeria Governors’ Spouses Forum (NGSF), Prof. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, said progress is being made at state level, citing Kwara’s 35 percent gender inclusion law and the growing adoption of six months’ maternity leave across 10 states. She added that Imo, Ogun, and Ekiti States now have female deputy governors, while Kwara has reached 50 percent female representation in its cabinet.
The regional perspective was underscored by Matilda Sante-Asiedu, Second Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Ghana, who said governments must look beyond GDP growth. “Gender equity is not just a moral responsibility but a strategic necessity for building inclusive, resilient, and prosperous societies,” she said.
The summit, themed “New Voices and New Approaches for Accelerating Inclusive Society”, brought together political leaders, private sector actors, and civil society groups to discuss practical steps for embedding gender inclusion as a driver of sustainable economic growth and social progress.
