By Nkechi Eze
In a landmark move to strengthen women’s economic participation in Nigeria, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women have launched a transformative partnership aimed at empowering women entrepreneurs across the country. The formal agreement was sealed during a high-level signing ceremony held at the private residence of Cherie Blair CBE KC, founder of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women.
The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, alongside the Foundation’s leadership team, led the proceedings that marked the beginning of a results-oriented collaboration. According to a statement issued by the Minister’s Special Adviser on Media & Publicity, Jonathan Eze, the initiative is set to enhance access to essential business training, financial resources, and market opportunities for women-led enterprises throughout Nigeria.
Speaking at the ceremony, Cherie Blair expressed strong support for the collaboration, praising the Ministry’s bold vision for Nigerian women. “I have enormous appreciation for the Ministry’s vision and commitment to women entrepreneurs in Nigeria, one that I share,” Blair stated. “Women and their businesses are critical to Nigeria’s economy, and we must address the challenges they face to ensure sustainable growth, economic independence, and representation as leaders.”
This partnership is closely aligned with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs’ flagship “Renewed Hope Social Impact Interventions 774,” a core initiative under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The program targets transformative social and economic outcomes for women, children, families, and vulnerable populations across Nigeria’s 774 local government areas.
Highlighting the broader significance of the collaboration, Minister Sulaiman-Ibrahim noted that it is rooted in shared purpose and a commitment to measurable results. “This partnership reflects our shared belief that empowering women economically is not optional; it is essential. Through this collaboration, we are scaling real tools, real access, and real opportunity,” the Minister said. “We are not just telling stories of change; we are building systems of change that will uplift millions of Nigerian women and strengthen the future of our economy.”
She added that the initiative is the product of “months of alignment, trust-building, and a shared mission to deliver measurable impact.”
The partnership is further bolstered by the proven track record of the Cherie Blair Foundation for Women, which has already supported nearly 150,000 women in Nigeria. According to the Foundation’s CEO, Dhivya O’Connor, this new collaboration represents a bold step forward in scaling tried-and-tested approaches to supporting women in business.
“We welcome the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs adopting this tried-and-tested approach to support women’s entrepreneurship development specialist training, digital technology to engage women, strong localization, and committed, long-term collaboration,” O’Connor said.
With the formal launch now in place, both the Ministry and the Foundation are poised to drive inclusive growth and sustainable development by equipping women entrepreneurs across Nigeria with the tools, networks, and opportunities they need to thrive. The partnership marks a new chapter in the ongoing efforts to harness the full potential of Nigerian women as drivers of economic and social transformation.
