The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has explained that the decision by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prioritise family and social development is aimed at strengthening the foundation of national growth by addressing women’s issues from the home front.

Speaking in Abuja during the ninth edition of the International Women’s Day Football Tournament organised by the FAME Foundation, the minister said the administration recognises the critical role families play in building strong communities and a stable nation.

She noted that the President recently declared 2026 as the Year of Family and Social Development to emphasise the importance of strengthening households as the starting point for national development.

According to her, focusing on the home ensures that policies affecting women, children and families are addressed at the grassroots level where social development begins.

“When the home is strong, the entire community becomes stronger and more secure,” she said.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim added that the government has increased attention and investment in programmes targeting women and children, describing the current focus on the gender space as unprecedented.

She said the Ministry of Women Affairs was aligning its programmes with the administration’s agenda to expand opportunities for women across rural, urban and peri-urban communities.

The minister also reiterated the government’s commitment to supporting initiatives that empower women in different sectors, including sports, education and entrepreneurship.

In her remarks, the Executive Director of the FAME Foundation, Aderonke Atoyebi, said the annual football tournament was created to promote unity, inclusion and women’s empowerment through sports.

She explained that the event continues to bring together women from diverse social, ethnic and religious backgrounds.

According to her, sports remain one of the few activities that unite Nigerians irrespective of tribe, religion or status.

“Nigeria is a heterogeneous country, and one of the few things that unite us is sports. Whenever our national teams are playing, nobody cares about religion, tribe or ethnicity,” she said.

Atoyebi noted that the tournament allows women from different walks of life to interact and build relationships, adding that in previous editions, professionals such as lawyers had played alongside women from internally displaced persons camps.

She added that the tournament is strictly for amateur players to ensure that participation remains fun and inclusive.

The organiser also stressed the importance of collaboration between civil society organisations and government, noting that groups like the FAME Foundation play a role in supporting policies, advocating for citizens and promoting accountability.

According to her, the enthusiasm of women who participate in the tournament continues to inspire the organisation to sustain the initiative, as many women express interest in joining each year.