The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has assured women in Northern Nigeria that they will enjoy greater dividends of democracy and economic prosperity if President Bola Ahmed Tinubu secures a second term in office in 2027.
The Minister acknowledged the economic hardship Nigerians are currently experiencing but expressed optimism that the difficulties arising from the Tinubu administration’s economic reforms would soon give way to improved living conditions and prosperity.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim gave the assurance while addressing a stakeholders’ engagement with women at the Umaru Musa Yar’Adua Hall, Murtala Square, Kaduna, on the sidelines of the All Progressives Congress (APC) presidential campaign flag-off.
The engagement, organised by the Women Mobilisation Committee of the Presidential Campaign Council, drew women leaders, party supporters, and other stakeholders, including former Minister Dr Betta Edu.
Addressing the gathering, the Minister said the current economic challenges confronting Nigerians were a consequence of the reforms the Federal Government is implementing to reposition the nation’s economy, assuring that the pains associated with the reforms were gradually coming to an end.
She urged women, particularly those in the northern part of the country, not to let the prevailing economic difficulties discourage them from supporting the President’s re-election bid, saying the administration had laid the foundation for economic recovery and sustainable development.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim also dismissed allegations that President Tinubu was pursuing policies and programmes unfavourable to Northern Nigeria, calling the claims false and misleading.
According to her, the President has shown his commitment to the North’s development through various infrastructure projects, educational and healthcare interventions, and efforts to address the security challenges confronting the region.
She cited road construction and rehabilitation, and the establishment of universities and Federal Medical Centres, among other development initiatives, as evidence of the administration’s commitment to Northern Nigeria, assuring the region would receive greater attention under a second-term Tinubu presidency.
The Minister further argued that opposition presidential candidates had not presented better alternatives to the economic policies and development programmes the Tinubu administration is pursuing, urging Northern women to disregard what she described as misinformation about the President’s disposition towards the region.
She consequently called on women to mobilise their families and communities, particularly eligible voters, to participate actively in the January 16, 2027 presidential election and support the President’s re-election ambition.
Emphasising women’s role in electoral outcomes, Sulaiman-Ibrahim claimed that women made up about 70 per cent of Nigeria’s voting population, describing them as a formidable political force whose collective decision could influence election results.
The Minister expressed optimism that women across Nigeria, particularly those in the northern states, would remain committed to supporting President Tinubu’s re-election bid, assuring them that they would not regret giving him another mandate to consolidate his administration’s economic reforms and development programmes.