Says women empowerment has connection with strong institutions and improved governance outcomes.
First Lady Oluremi Tinubu yesterday launched the Inclusive Network for Supporting Progressive Leadership, Innovation, Reform and Equity for Women (INSPIRE Nigeria), urging deliberate mentorship, institutional reforms and inclusive policies to strengthen women’s leadership in the civil service.
The First Lady said the initiative was designed to transform workplaces and create opportunities for women to rise from entry-level positions to the highest levels of public service.
The event took place at the 2026 International Civil Service Conference (ICSC) in Abuja. More than 5,000 delegates from 16 countries attended the event with “Reforms, Resilience and Results” as its theme.
The programme forms part of broader Federal Government efforts under the National Gender Policy 2021–2026 and the Women’s Economic Empowerment Policy 2023–2028, aimed at institutionalising gender inclusion and leadership development.
Senator Tinubu said in a statement by her Senior Special Assistant on Media, Busola Kukoyi, that INSPIRE is a major component of the Renewed Hope Agenda’s vision for inclusion, productivity and national development.
“This initiative speaks to the kind of civil service we must continue to build — one that supports its workforce, rewards competence, promotes fairness, encourages innovation, creates opportunities for professional growth and truly reflects equity and excellence,” she said.
The First Lady stressed the importance of developing leadership capacity early among women in the public service.
The statement further quoted her as saying: “I am pleased to learn that this initiative is designed to reach women across different levels of the civil service, from junior officers to executive level, and this is most important because leadership development should not begin only when a woman becomes a permanent secretary.
“A young officer who is properly mentored today may become the permanent secretary, head of service, minister, or a national leader tomorrow.”
She linked women’s empowerment to stronger institutions and improved governance outcomes, noting that citizens ultimately benefit when more women occupy leadership positions.
“When women are empowered, institutions become stronger, governance improves, and citizens benefit from better service delivery. That is why initiatives like INSPIRE are not just important for women alone; they are vital for national progress,” she added.
The First Lady also called on men within the civil service to support efforts aimed at building workplaces founded on fairness and equal opportunities.
Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, described the initiative as timely and urged stakeholders to ensure that commitments made at the conference translate into measurable results.
She noted that while women constituted a significant proportion of the federal workforce, their representation at senior levels remained disproportionately low.
“This is not a coincidence; it is a consequence of a legacy system that has some structural weaknesses. And it is a gap we can no longer afford,” she said.
