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By Funmilayo Adeyemi
The Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Dr Mariya Mahmoud, has called for improved access to finance, and stronger institutional support for women social entrepreneurs in basic and senior secondary education.
Mahmoud, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, FCT Education Secretariat, Mrs Joy Okeke, made the call on Wednesday at the 2026 Women-Led Education and Social Enterprise Impact Summit in Abuja.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the summit has the theme, “Empowering Women Social Entrepreneurs in Basic and Senior Secondary Education: Driving Policy Influence, Access to Finance, and Institutional Support”.
It was organised by the Centre for Educational Empowerment and Orientation (CEEO) in collaboration with the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS).
Speaking at the event tagged, “Give to Gain,” the minister said that women play a vital role in education and social entrepreneurship in the country.
She stated that empowering women was not just a matter of equity, but a necessity for sustainable development and national progress.
“Empowering women social entrepreneurs brings innovative solutions to educational challenges, and their contributions can reshape our educational landscape,” she said.
Mahmoud noted that the summit provided a unique opportunity for dialogue, exchange of ideas, and collaboration among stakeholders in the education sector.
She urged participants to explore ways to enhance policy influence, improve access to finance, and develop institutional support frameworks for women in education.
“Together, we can create a robust framework that fosters growth and empowers women to make significant impacts in their communities,” she added.
The minister encouraged participants to engage actively, share insights, and forge partnerships that would drive the collective vision forward.
She stressed the need to ensure that every woman has the resources and support needed to excel in education and social entrepreneurship.
In her remarks, Dr Angela Ajala, Executive Secretary, National Commission for Colleges of Education (NCCE), reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to policies and programmes that support teacher education.
Ajala added that the NCCE was equally poised to promote gender inclusion and encourage innovation in teaching and learning.
Represented by a Deputy Director in the commission, Dr Bode Oke, the executive secretary said the summit was organised to amplify the voices of women driving change in the education sector.
She said the role of women in shaping educational systems and driving social innovation had never been more important.
“Across communities and nations, women continue to serve as educators, mentors, entrepreneurs, and change-makers, transforming lives through knowledge, compassion, and enterprise.
“NCCE recognises that education remains the most powerful tool for sustainable development, and women are at the heart of this transformation,” she stated.
According to her, empowering women in education will advance gender equity and foster inclusive growth.
The Founder of Samuel Ele Foundation, Mrs Joy Ele- Asebe, who commended the initiative, expressed her determination to promote women-led education in the country.
Ele-Asebe, who co-founded the initiative, urged stakeholders to invest in education, which she said would enhance national development.
She said that her foundation had given scholarships to more than 300 students and offered help to more than 1,500 widows across the nation.
Also, the Executive Director, CEEO, Mr Davidcrown Oyebisi, called for stronger policy support, improved access to finance and institutional backing for women-led schools.
This, according to him, will enhance educational outcomes and community development across Nigeria.
Oyebisi said women proprietors of schools in underserved communities have continued to provide quality education in spite of operating under difficult conditions, including inadequate infrastructure, irregular income and limited institutional support.
According to him, investing in women-led schools is critical to building stronger communities and improving access to quality education.
“These women are not merely school owners; they are builders of the future, stabilisers of communities and protectors of the next generation.
“Supporting women-led schools is not charity; it is a strategic investment in nation-building,” he said
On her part, Sen. Ireti Kingibe, representing the FCT in the Senate, lauded the organisers for the timely initiative to support women-led education and inspire the next generation.
Kingibe, who was represented by her Legislative Assistant, Nelson Alabi, celebrated the invaluable role of women in shaping the future of the nation through education and service.
“When we invest in women and educate our children, we build stronger families, stronger communities, and a stronger nation,” she said.
Also, Princess Edna Azura, National President, NCWS, also lauded the organisers for the initiative to promote women’s education.
Azura said that empowering women in education and supporting their engagement in social enterprise would advance gender equity and foster inclusive growth.
The National Librarian of the National Library of Nigeria, Prof. Chinwe Anunobi, reaffirmed the agency’s commitment to democratising access to knowledge for women, youth, and vulnerable populations across the country.
Represented by Ifeoma Phyllis, an Assistant Director, the national librarian pointed out that Nigerian women had continued to play transformative roles as educators, mentors, innovators, community leaders, and social entrepreneurs.
Anunobi noted that under the current administration, the library had expanded initiatives for underserved communities through the annual Readership Promotion Campaign, literacy centres, and reading clubs.
The programmes, she said, had continued to promote reading culture among children and create opportunities for all Nigerians, especially women and young people.
Dr Ayo Oladini, Federal and Out-of-School Adviser, FCDO-PLANE Project, urged school proprietors to seek support from the Ministry of Education.
He also urged the proprietors to explore available windows in financial institutions to support education development in the country. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Philip Yatai
