ABUJA, NIGERIA (Agency Report) — 27 March 2026 — The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to empowering women as key drivers of the creative economy, focusing on access to finance, skills development and leadership opportunities.
Minister of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa, stated this in Lagos at the International Women’s Day Conference organised by Access Bank Plc, which drew over 5,000 participants onsite and online.
Represented by CBAAC Director-General Mrs Aisha Adamu, Musawa said women are increasingly leading in business, innovation and social change. She identified culture, capital and courage as critical factors, stressing that culture is both identity and an economic asset. She noted the ministry is repositioning culture through creative hubs, skills development and enterprise support targeting women in film, fashion, digital media and tourism. Women-owned businesses account for about 40 per cent of SMEs but face significant funding gaps.
“Too many ideas remain small not because they lack potential, but because they lack access to capital,” she said, adding that government is working to unlock targeted funding, strengthen market access and promote women’s inclusion in leadership.
Access Bank Chairman Mrs Ifeyinwa Osime urged deliberate investment in women as a catalyst for growth, stressing empowerment should be seen as a strategy, not charity. She noted women own 39 per cent of businesses and drive nearly 40 per cent of new enterprises, while SMEs contribute 48 per cent of GDP and over 80 per cent of jobs. Yet financing gaps persist, constraining productivity.
“No economy can optimise its potential while underinvesting in half its population,” she said, highlighting Access Bank’s W Initiative and Womenpreneur Pitch-a-ton programme, which provides financing, training and healthcare support.
Former Education Minister Dr Oby Ezekwesili stressed prioritising women’s inclusion, noting that societies transform when such issues are deliberately addressed. She said removing barriers could unlock vast potential, with agricultural output rising by up to 30 per cent if women had equal access to inputs. She commended Access Bank’s interventions and urged women to invest in knowledge, build partnerships and seek financing opportunities. In a one-on-one session, she emphasised shared values as “our internal currencies.”
Mrs Nene Kunle-Ogunlusi, Group Head, Women Banking, Access Bank, said the bank remains committed to supporting women across all segments, citing a recent Women’s Day programme for market women in Oyingbo, Lagos, offering free health checks, beauty services and financial education.
Stakeholders called for sustained collaboration between the government and the private sector to expand opportunities for women and drive inclusive growth. (NAN).
