Women Affairs Ministry Seeks More Funds to Boost Family Agenda

By Oluwakemi Kindness 

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, says the Ministry’s proposed 2026 budget is designed to strengthen programmes that support President Bola Tinubu’s family-focused agenda.

This includes interventions targeting women, children, and vulnerable households.

She made this known on Tuesday during the Ministry’s 2026 budget defence before the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs at the National Assembly.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim explained that although the Ministry managed its 2025 personnel, overhead, and intervention funds prudently, limited capital releases affected the full implementation of several programmes.

She said the 2026 proposal seeks to close these gaps and scale up initiatives that enhance women’s empowerment, child welfare, and family stability.

“The proposed 2026 budget seeks to address these gaps and strengthen the Ministry’s capacity to deliver impactful programmes for our women, our children and the vulnerable population, and also to strengthen the family agenda of Mr. President,” she told lawmakers, appealing for their support.

Earlier, the Chairperson of the Committee, Kafilat Ogbara, reaffirmed the Ministry’s strategic role in confronting the multidimensional challenges facing women across Nigeria.

She said the Committee would carefully examine the allocation to ensure it reflects national priorities for women’s welfare and gender equality.

Ogbara noted that the Ministry remains central to addressing issues such as gender-based violence, economic empowerment, healthcare access, and education, stressing the need for funding that adequately supports rural women, women with disabilities, and survivors of violence.

She added that the budget defence provides an opportunity to review past performance, strengthen ongoing programmes, and explore long-term interventions capable of creating lasting impact.

Both the Committee and the Ministry agreed on the need for stronger collaboration with government agencies, civil society, and development partners to deliver measurable progress for women and families.