Laguda, Afanu Urge Policy Shift Toward Women-Led Development for Inclusive Economic Growth in Nigeria

Hon. Fuad Kayode Laguda, Member of the House of Representatives representing Surulere Constituency I, Lagos State, alongside development expert and certified management consultant, Dr Omopeju Afanu, have called for the strategic integration of women-led development into Nigeria’s national framework, positioning it as a key driver of inclusive economic growth and sustainable nation building.

The call was made at a high-level policy dialogue hosted by the WeGrow Together platform and convened by Dada Olajide. The event brought together policymakers, development practitioners, and community leaders from across Nigeria to explore actionable strategies for advancing women’s economic inclusion and grassroots development.

Speaking at the event, Hon. Laguda emphasised the importance of policy-driven empowerment and institutional collaboration in strengthening local economies across Surulere, Lagos, and other parts of Nigeria.

He highlighted key initiatives from his office, including vocational training programmes in leatherwork in partnership with Hon. Bunmi Phillips, as well as ongoing collaboration with Yaba College of Technology, Lagos, aimed at expanding access to technical and vocational education for women and youth.

According to the lawmaker, sustainable development in Nigeria’s urban communities, particularly in Lagos State, depends on equipping citizens with practical, income-generating skills that promote entrepreneurship, self-reliance, and economic participation.

Delivering the keynote address titled “The Role of Women in Nation Building,” Dr Afanu called for a decisive shift toward empowerment-driven development strategies that actively integrate women into Nigeria’s economic and governance systems.

She noted that despite women representing nearly half of Nigeria’s and the global population, gender parity remains largely unmet decades after the Beijing Declaration, underscoring the urgency for scalable, policy-backed interventions across federal, state, and local levels.

Dr. Afanu cited the Girls in Energy initiative as a practical example of a Nigeria-focused platform empowering girls and women to become self-sustaining, purpose-driven, and economically productive contributors. She explained that the initiative reflects a broader model of holistic community development in Nigeria, driven by access to opportunities, strategic partnerships, empowered local communities, and long-term infrastructural and economic growth.

She further stressed that nation-building in Nigeria must extend beyond government institutions to include the private sector, grassroots communities, and civic actors, particularly in fast-growing urban centres like Lagos.

According to her, Nigeria must transition from dependency-driven interventions to capacity-building models that prioritise skills development, entrepreneurship, and women’s economic empowerment as a pathway to national productivity.

Dr Afanu also introduced the concept of “sweat equity,” highlighting the importance of non-financial contributions such as expertise, mentorship, time, and professional networks in building sustainable development ecosystems across Nigeria.

She called for stronger policy alignment, increased investment in women-focused programmes, and a shift from advocacy to measurable outcomes, especially in grassroots communities across Lagos State and beyond.

Reinforcing the discussions, Dada Olajide, convener of the WeGrow Together platform, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to raising a new generation of empowered leaders in Nigeria through mentorship, skills development, and strategic partnerships.

He noted that the platform remains focused on building self-reliant, socially responsible individuals capable of contributing meaningfully to Nigeria’s long-term economic growth and national development.