Kemi Ajumobi 
Hon Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim fsi is an international expert and thought leader in security, conflict resolution, humanitarian and disaster management, development and migration governance. She is driven by a passion to tackle critical and legacy issues impacting women, children, and vulnerable populations, and has dedicated her career to promoting inclusive development, stability, and social equity. Between 2019 and 2023, she served as a member of the Nasarawa State Investment and Economic Advisory Council, where she showcased her policy acumen and strategic insight, contributing significantly to the state’s development agenda while supporting efforts that delivered over $1 billion in investments.
Serving as Special Adviser on Strategic Communication and Partnerships to the Minister of State for Education in 2020, she championed the Alternate School Programme, which earned the commendation of the highest policy decision making body in Nigeria – the Federal Executive Council, and continues to be a strategic initiative for reducing the number of out-of-school children in Nigeria. In December 2020, Hon Imaan’s exceptional leadership was recognised as she assumed the role of Director-General of The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP).
In recognition of her reform expertise, and commitment to national security and stability, she was appointed in August 2023, as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, to the Ministry of Police Affairs (State), making her the First Female Minister of Police Affairs.
She is a fellow of Nigeria Security Institute, a Certified Personnel Management Professional, and a Certified SAP HCM Consultant, amongst other certifications. Imaan is a visiting lecturer at the Sultan Maccido Institute for Peace, Leadership, and Development Studies in the University of Abuja, where she teaches postgraduate students about global migration governance and national security.
She also serves as a visiting lecturer at the University of Rome in Italy, contributing her expertise and insights to an international academic audience. Imaan holds a degree in Sociology from the University of Abuja, and a Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) and a Master’s of Art in Management (MA), both from Webster University, St Louis, Missouri(London Campus).
She is presently engaged in pursuing a Doctoral degree in Security and Strategic Studies at the prestigious Nigeria Defence Academy. With numerous awards locally and internationally under her belt in recognition of her dedication to impactful change,
As the Minister of Women Affairs of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, she is working tirelessly to create a future where every woman, child, and marginalised person in Nigeria can thrive with purpose, equality, and opportunity.
From entrepreneurship to governance
My journey began in the private sector, where entrepreneurship taught me resilience, innovation, and the importance of results. Moving into governance, first at NAPTIP, then at the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI), later Minister of State for Police Affairs, and now as Minister of Women Affairs. Across these roles, I have carried those same values – focusing on measurable impact, efficiency, and accountability. The transition has expanded my perspective, allowing me to see how public policy can transform lives at scale. The combination of entrepreneurial drive and public service has shaped me into a leader who is both results-oriented and deeply committed to the people we serve.
Policy implementation by the Ministry of Women Affairs
Under the Renewed Hope Agenda, we have prioritised strengthening the National Gender Policy, scaling up the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP-SU) to reach more states (with a target of 5 million women), and launching targeted programmes and interventions such as Ending Energy Poverty (piloted in 5 States, and targeted at transitioning families to clean cooking and improving their access to electricity), amongst several others. We are also finalising the National Framework on Ending Violence Against Women and Girls, and enhancing our Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Policy Implementation Plan. These initiatives ensure that women’s issues remain central to national development.
We are essentially pursuing a dual track of direct empowerment of women through targeted livelihood, skills, and financial inclusion programmes on one hand, and systemic reforms on the other—strengthening laws, institutions, and social norms to create an enabling environment where women can thrive sustainably.
Biggest challenges Nigerian women face and the Ministry’s intervention
Women in Nigeria face persistent challenges, including limited economic opportunities, gender-based violence, underrepresentation in leadership, and unequal access to education and healthcare. Our approach is multi-sectoral: strengthening laws and enforcement, expanding economic empowerment programmes, improving access to finance, promoting girls’ education, and working with partners to change harmful social norms. For us as government, under the leader of Mr President, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, our theory of change is that lasting transformation for women will only happen when empowerment is pursued on all fronts – economic, legal, social, and cultural – so that every Nigerian woman not only has rights on paper, but the resources, opportunities, and enabling environment to exercise them fully.
Women empowerment initiatives
We are implementing the WAVE Programme (Women Agro Value Expansion) to help women thrive in agriculture value chains, scaling up NFWP-SU to support women’s cooperatives, and leveraging partnerships with the Bank of Industry, Bank of Agriculture, and international development partners to connect women with finance, training, and markets. We are also encouraging digital entrepreneurship and STEM participation.
Access to finance for women
We are working with financial institutions to design gender-friendly credit schemes with reduced collateral requirements. Through NFWP-SU, women’s affinity groups receive capacity building and revolving funds to expand their businesses. We are also working with WEMA Bank on a Programme called MOWA SARA, that is also upskilling women and providing them with finance. We launched in Kano in 2024, and on track to reach 500,000 women across the country. We are also advocating for the inclusion of women in key government credit guarantee schemes and supporting financial literacy to help women manage and grow capital effectively.
Education for girls
Education is the most powerful equaliser. We are collaborating with the Ministry of Education and development partners to address barriers such as early marriage, insecurity, and cultural bias. Our Girls’ Education Campaign focuses on community sensitisation, scholarship support, and safe school initiatives. We also push for more girls in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM).
Women’s health and reproductive rights
We work closely with the Ministry of Health to improve maternal health services, expand access to reproductive healthcare, and strengthen community health systems. We are scaling up safe motherhood initiatives, expanding access to family planning, and integrating gender-based violence response into health services. Our approach is to strengthen respect for women’s rights while promoting informed health choices.
Women in politics and implementation strategies
Women’s voices must be heard in decision-making. We are pushing for legislative reforms such as the Special Seats for women, to increase women’s quotas in elective and appointive positions, providing leadership training for aspiring women leaders, and working with political parties to mainstream gender in their structures. We also spotlight successful women in leadership to inspire others.
Need for collaboration to advance women’s issues in Nigeria
Collaboration is essential. We work with federal and state ministries, development partners, the private sector, civil society, and traditional leaders to align resources and expertise. Our partnerships with UN agencies, the World Bank, and grassroots’ women groups to ensure that policies translate into tangible community impact, and our approach is collaborative to maximise opportunities and not duplicate efforts.
Youth involvement in nation building and the Ministry’s intervention
The youth are the energy and innovation hub of Nigeria. We engage young women through mentorship programmes, digital skills training, and leadership fellowships. We also integrate youth voices into policy dialogues, ensuring they are co-creators of solutions, and not just beneficiaries.
Priorities as Minister of Women Affairs
My priorities are clear: strengthen the policy and legal environment for gender equality, expand women’s economic empowerment, end gender-based violence, improve access to education and health for women and girls, and ensure that the voices of women and vulnerable groups are heard in every decision-making process.
The future of the Nigerian girl/woman
I envision a Nigeria where every girl can dream without limits and every woman can live free from violence, discrimination, or poverty. A future where women are equal partners in building the nation, leading in boardrooms, classrooms, and government, and thriving in every sector of the economy.
Motivation
Service to humanity motivates me. Knowing that every policy we pass, every programme we implement, and every barrier we break can change lives for generations. The smiles of women whose businesses have grown, the safety of girls who now attend school, and the dignity restored to survivors of violence keep me going.
Back-to-back victories for Nigerian women in sports
I have just been able catch my breath from the back to back celebration of our dearest ladies who have brought us honour in football and basketball, but I have enjoyed every bit of it. I genuinely appreciate and celebrate them for making us proud. They put in their best and clearly the results tell the entire story. As a nation, we are proud of them and we wish there more victories ahead.
The Ministry Of Women Affairs and IWA Collaboration
Congratulations on the launch of Inspiring Woman Africa (IWA). We are proud of this collaboration and we are confident that this will be a great one. For almost two decades, you have consistently written and shared the inspiring stories of great women, elevated their impact through articles that uplifts and inspires, and we are glad you are taking this leap. As a ministry, we are doing a lot and we look forward to weekly sharing our updates on your platform so that Nigerians can be abreast on our work, initiatives and more. We wish you well and look forward to more victories for you.
In summary
The work of advancing women’s rights is not for one ministry alone, but for all of us. I invite every Nigerian, male and female, to join hands with us under the Renewed Hope Agenda to create a nation where no woman or girl is left behind. When women rise, Nigeria rises.