• Super Admin
• 06 Mar, 2026

Nigeria's Minister for Women Affairs, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim has assured that the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development will continue to collaborate with non-governmental organisations like FAME Foundation that are genuinely focusing on gender equality, women's and girls empowerment, and social protection programs. She gave this assurance on Friday while speaking to the media at the opening ceremony of the FAME Foundation International Women's Day 2026 Annual Football Tournament, a non-professional football match at Area 3 Football Pitch, Abuja. According to her, the government of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is taking the issues of women and girls' empowerment very seriously, and there are no other ways to ensure that the vision is actualized than to collaborate with non-governmental organisations and agencies with good track records of empowering the female gender such as FAME Foundation. Sulaiman-Ibrahim said: "Mr. President has made issues surrounding women central and not an afterthought. This is unprecedented. We must thank him, and we must applaud him. And, I like to assure the public that we must support FAME Foundation to ensure that women's innovation and their creativity are being explored and supported." Speaking further, the minister said: "I will like to also use this opportunity to sufficiently appreciate Mr. President because the gender space, the women and gender have never seen this type, even the level of domestic investment, prioritisation. Nigerian women are happy. We have aligned with the President's agenda for women and for children. Mr. President a couple of weeks ago declared 2026 a year for family and social development. This is a big one for Nigeria. It means we are taking the issue of development from the home front". Meanwhile, the Executive Director of FAME Foundation, Arabirin Aderonke Ogunleye-Bello, has said that the role of the non-governmental organisations like FAME Foundation is to put governments on their toes to take the issue of gender inclusion and women empowerment very seriously. She said that the presence of the Federal Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development in today's event was a testament that FAME Foundation is on the right track. Said she: " You know that NGOs (Non-governmental Organisations) and CSOs ( Civil Society Organisations) can not do anything without the government. We are there to put them on their toes, and we are there to collaborate with them. "As a non-governmental organisation, we are here to ensure that they implement the right policies which will benefit the women female gender. We are also to checkmate them. "So, to bring the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development here today is to make policy statement and you can hear what she said that "it is Women O'clock." So, her ministry will do well in supporting women and if we do not have an event like this we not hear anything like this. So, she said that "it is Women O'clock", now we have to hold her accountable by going back to her to say "madam, you said "it is Women O'clock", so far so good, what have we been able to do for the women and girls as you promised on International Women's Day ". Commenting on the football tournament, Arabirin Aderonke said it is focusing on bringing women together in a friendly, inclusive setting that focuses on participation, teamwork, and celebration rather than competition alone. It also aims to promote gender equality, empowerment, and women in sports, aligning with International Women's Day celebration. This year's event featured 13 teams, including FAME Foundation FC, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Internally Displced Persons (IDP) FC, etc. Source: https://promptnewsonline.com/fg-fame-foundation-partner-to-drive-women-girls-empowerment-women-affairs-minister/