At the heart of New York City, on the sidelines of the 80th United Nations General Assembly, the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, delivered a stirring call for global action to economically empower women—describing it as one of the most powerful levers for ending poverty, fostering equity, and securing lasting peace.
Standing before an audience of world leaders, industry giants, and policy innovators, Mahmoud praised the forum’s theme—“Scaling Women’s Economic Empowerment: Financing Inclusive Growth for Peace, Development, and Human Rights”—as both timely and transformative.
Her Special Assistant, Media, Austine Elemue in a statement quoted her thus,
“Gender equality is not a privilege but a fundamental right,” Mahmoud declared, her voice resonating through the hall. “When we invest in women, we invest in the transformation of families, communities, and entire nations. Financing inclusive growth is a responsibility we all must embrace.”
Mahmoud highlighted how, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, gender inclusion, youth development, and entrepreneurial opportunities for women have taken centre stage in Nigeria’s development priorities. She reaffirmed the FCT Administration’s commitment to opening doors to finance, skills, and markets—tools that will allow women to become innovators, job creators, and agents of peace.
The Minister applauded the forum’s organizers for creating a dynamic space where ideas, strategies, and partnerships converge to accelerate women’s advancement.
The event brought together a powerful coalition of political leaders, diplomats, economic experts, and changemakers determined to rewrite the global narrative on women’s empowerment—showing that investing in women is investing in a more just, peaceful, and prosperous world.