Minister of State in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Dr Mariya Mahmoud, has called for stronger global support to advance women’s economic empowerment, describing it as a key pathway to poverty reduction, equity, and lasting peace.
Her Special Assistant on Media, Mr Austin Elemue, disclosed that Mahmoud made the call in New York during an economic empowerment forum held on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly.
The forum brought together women political leaders, economic experts, industry players, innovators, diplomats, and policymakers under the theme: “Scaling Women’s Economic Empowerment: Financing Inclusive Growth for Peace, Development, and Human Rights.”
Mahmoud expressed satisfaction that under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, gender inclusion, youth development, and entrepreneurship have been placed at the heart of governance.
She reaffirmed that the FCT Administration is committed to providing an enabling environment where women have equitable access to finance, skills, and markets to contribute meaningfully to national development.
“This gathering underscores the truth that gender equality is not a privilege but a fundamental right, and financing inclusive growth is a responsibility we must all shoulder. By placing women at the centre of economic development, we invest in the transformation of families, communities, and nations,” Mahmoud said.
She also commended the forum’s organisers for creating a platform to share ideas, policies, and strategies that could accelerate progress on women’s empowerment, stressing that inclusive growth and human rights must remain central to global development efforts.
The forum served as a platform for stakeholders across sectors to chart actionable strategies that promote women’s empowerment as a driver of peace and sustainable development.
