According to the UNDP, young people represent a majority of the population in most developing countries. Nigeria has a youth population of approximately 140 million or 70% of an estimated population of 200 million. Nigerian youth face disproportionate social, economic and political barriers that  prevent them from unleashing their full potential.

Similarly, women constitute nearly 50% of Nigeria's population and are less empowered financially, politically, socially, culturally and economically within and outside the home. 

The United Nations Millennium Development Goal 3, (and the Sustainable Development Goal 5) on gender equality and women empowerment, attracted world and national attention to the social, cultural, economic and political challenges faced by women and girls mostly in Africa.

Generally, women have lower HDI values (0.494) than men (0.569) although they enjoy higher life expectancy at birth (54.7 years for women compared with 53.1 years for men).  Gross National Income for women is US$4,433 compared to US$6,008 for men. Women have less access to education than men. Their mean years of schooling are 2.3 years below that of men. Other challenges include higher rates of unemployment (21.8% compared to 20.5% for men), cruelty against women in domestic violence, sex trafficking, abuse and rape.

Policy Objectives

For the reason that the youth and women are crucial to the survival of all societies, empowering them is a must.  In cognizance of this, our objectives are as follows:

a. Breaking all barriers that prevent women from reaching their best potentials whether in adolescence or adulthood.

b. Promoting equal access to job and education opportunities between men and women.

c. Ensuring financial inclusion of women.

d. Creating an environment that provides employment and fulfillment to our youth and women population through education, mentorship, vocational training, and technology and entrepreneurship initiatives.

e. Putting in place policies that discourage unfair exploitation and persecution of women in our society.

What We Will Do

In order to achieve the core objectives, we shall: 

a. Encourage States and the private sector to incentivize studies for girls in sciences, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) by providing scholarships, and follow up with internships in research institutions and technology firms.

b. Provide microfinance and financing schemes specifically targeted at the youth and women.

c. Encourage banks to expand banking services to disadvantaged and marginalised groups and to citizens in remote an hard to reach areas. Simplify the banking processes and make it friendly to motivate financial inclusion of youth and women.

d. Encourage the private sector to make provisions for low cost electrification options such as mini grids in rural areas to help increase employment there.

e. Focus investments in health and education making them  accessible, affordable and socio-culturally adaptable.

f. Create a special tribunal for crimes against women including domestic violence, physical or sexual abuse, rape.

g. Increase women representation and retention rates in government and business, through positive action such as quotas for women on politics and corporate boards. We shall support the 'Elect me' campaign that focuses on women's right and capacity to run for elective positions.

h. Increase the number of appointments made to young people in government and in government committees by identifying competent and capable  youth - under 40 - and promote them into responsible positions such as  ministerial, ambassadorial and executive.

i. Embark on a general sensitization of the public to youth and gender issues using the media, religious institutions and targeted workshops.

j. Actively encourage the passage of the gender equality bill in an acceptable form, dedicating resources to resolve any blockages.