The Women in Energy Network (WIEN) has reinforced its strategic partnership with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to accelerate clean energy access, women’s economic empowerment, and inclusive national development.
During a high-level engagement with the Ministry, WIEN reaffirmed its commitment to positioning women as central drivers of Nigeria’s energy transition, economic growth, and social development agenda.
The Network emphasized that Nigeria’s energy security and economic diversification goals cannot be fully realized without unlocking the economic potential of women, who represent nearly half of the country’s population.
A major highlight of the engagement was the Ministry’s grassroots Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) penetration initiative aimed at expanding access to clean cooking fuels for women across Nigeria.
The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim who received the WIEN delegation outlined efforts to transition households—particularly in rural and underserved communities—from traditional biomass to cleaner, safer, and more sustainable cooking solutions.
The WIEN delegation, led by its President, Mrs Eyono Fatayi-Williams, welcomed the initiative, describing clean cooking as both a public health priority and an economic empowerment strategy. Limited access to clean energy disproportionately affects women through health risks, time poverty, and restricted economic productivity.
The Network pledged industry-wide support to:
- Expand awareness campaigns on clean energy adoption
- Mobilize private sector stakeholders
- Strengthen distribution and financing pathways
- Improve last-mile access to LPG and clean cooking solutions
WIEN noted that expanding clean energy access directly contributes to improved health outcomes, increased household savings, and enhanced productivity for women-led enterprises.
WIEN also commended the Honourable Minister for her instrumental role in securing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s designation of 2026 as the Year of the Family and Social Development.
The 2026 agenda is expected to focus on strengthening family structures, promoting social stability, and reinforcing the role of households in driving national productivity and economic resilience.
WIEN expressed strong alignment with the Ministry’s vision, noting that empowered families form the foundation of sustainable development. Investments in women, households, and community systems are critical to long-term economic transformation.
In response to WIEN’s advocacy for structured financial support for women-owned businesses, Hon. Sulaiman-Ibrahim disclosed that the Federal Government is developing a Social Impact Fund to enhance access to finance for women entrepreneurs.
The proposed Fund will operate as a revolving financing mechanism designed to:
- Support women-led enterprises
- Enable asset acquisition
- Strengthen business scalability
- Build sustainable economic capacity
Unlike short-term grants, the Fund aims to create long-term financial inclusion and strengthen women’s contribution to national GDP growth.
WIEN welcomed the development and reiterated its readiness to collaborate on awareness campaigns, private sector alignment, and structured implementation frameworks to ensure measurable outcomes. The Honourable Minister reaffirmed President Tinubu’s commitment to advancing women’s inclusion across governance and economic activity, including advocacy for at least 35% participation in public appointments and contracting opportunities.
WIEN emphasized that inclusion must move beyond representation to measurable economic impact. Key focus areas include; Access to capital, Leadership representation in the energy sector, Procurement participation, Business growth opportunities, Skills and capacity development
The Network stressed that diversity, equity, and inclusion within Nigeria’s energy and economic landscape is not symbolic—it is a strategic imperative tied to competitiveness, capital formation, and long-term prosperity.
The engagement between WIEN and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs underscores a shared commitment to ensuring that women are not merely beneficiaries of development initiatives but architects of economic transformation.
As Nigeria advances its clean energy transition, LPG penetration strategy, and women’s economic inclusion policies, cross-sector partnerships will be critical to delivering sustainable impact.
The Women in Energy Network’s partnership with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs signals a coordinated effort to align clean energy expansion, family development, and women-led economic growth within Nigeria’s broader national development agenda.
