The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has reiterated the Federal Government’s commitment to the economic empowerment of 10 million Nigerian women, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s vision of building a $1 trillion economy.
Speaking during the commissioning of the Oluremi Tinubu Renewed Hope Resettlement City in Keffi, Nasarawa State, the Minister announced the state’s designation as a CEDAW City and its inclusion in the $500 million Nigeria for Women Project.
The initiative, supported by the World Bank, seeks to promote gender equality and inclusive growth through targeted programmes, including vocational training, micro-grants, psychosocial support, and leadership development. The project is expected to impact over five million women nationwide.
Highlighting the government’s shift from temporary relief to long-term restoration, Sulaiman-Ibrahim said, “These Resettlement Cities were never about brick and mortar alone. They were designed to promote self-reliance, social cohesion, and economic empowerment. For me, this is beyond shelter, but also about rights and restoration. We are restoring dignity and affirming that displacement must not be final. This space is yours to own, to thrive in, and to shape. I encourage you to build legacies here.”
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She emphasised that the project represents a symbol of national commitment to the dignity and future of displaced persons, particularly women and children, who bear the brunt of displacement in Nigeria. An estimated 6.1 million people remain displaced across the country, many of whom are women and children.
According to the Minister, the newly commissioned resettlement city will house 40 households, comprising 239 individuals, including refugees from Cameroon, South Sudan, and Central Africa.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim commended the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) for bringing the vision to life, noting that the project was initiated during her tenure as Federal Commissioner.
“A vision that began years ago has now grown wings and is now flying high,”she said. “The resettlement city was initiated as part of the durable solutions framework under my leadership at NCFRMI. I am honoured to witness its full implementation by the current High Federal Commissioner. The actualisation of this project demonstrates the importance of continuity in government and what institutional continuity can achieve when grounded in purpose and integrity.”
She expressed deep appreciation to the First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, describing her as an inspiration whose “vision is beyond symbolic but also very structural.” The Minister added: “The presence of Sen. Oluremi Tinubu here today confirms the credibility of the vision of the Renewed Hope Agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, which places human capital – especially women and vulnerable populations – at the heart of Nigeria’s development model.”
Calling for further collaboration to replicate similar initiatives across states affected by severe displacement, Sulaiman-Ibrahim stressed: “This milestone demonstrates the power of collaboration and purpose-driven governance. When institutions collaborate, when leadership listens, and when citizens are at the centre of design, progress becomes inevitable.”
The newly inaugurated Resettlement City stands as a tangible demonstration of the Federal Government’s Renewed Hope Agenda – a step towards dignity, stability, and opportunity for some of the most vulnerable members of society.
