The International Finance Corporation (IFC), Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group), and the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) have launched the Nigeria Gender Country Programme (NGCP) during a virtual CEO Roundtable. The event gathered chief executives and senior business leaders from NGX-listed firms, IFC client organisations, and LCCI member companies. Its goal was to present the NGCP's strategic framework and align private sector stakeholders ahead of the programme's formal launch. The NGCP expands on earlier efforts like Nigeria2Equal, aiming to deepen inclusion through coordinated action among development institutions, regulators, and private enterprises. It focuses on three core objectives: increasing women's representation in leadership roles, improving access to quality employment, and expanding access to productive assets such as finance, technology, and markets for women and women-led businesses.
Emomotimi Agama, Director General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), delivered the keynote address. He stated, "Gender inclusion is fundamentally an economic growth imperative. Closing gender gaps can unlock billions of dollars in value for Nigeria while strengthening business performance and national competitiveness. We must therefore move beyond viewing inclusion as a corporate social responsibility initiative or compliance exercise, and instead recognise it as a strategic driver of productivity, innovation, and sustainable economic growth." Temi Popoola, Group Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of NGX Group, said the NGCP offers a platform to scale women's economic participation through collaboration. He added that the capital market can advance outcomes through better governance and stakeholder engagement. Christian Mulamula, IFC Head of Office in Lagos, noted that gender inequality across Africa is estimated to cost up to $2.5 trillion. He described the NGCP as a vehicle for practical, measurable solutions that support business growth and inclusive development. Dr. Chinyere Almona, Director General of LCCI, stressed that success depends on leadership accountability and sustained commitment to integrating gender inclusion into corporate strategy. A formal in-person launch of the programme is scheduled for July 9, 2026.
The same business leaders now championing gender inclusion have presided over companies where women hold less than 10% of executive roles for years. The July 2026 launch date for the programme means no formal action will begin for over a year, despite urgent calls for change. Promises of "measurable solutions" ring hollow when timelines stretch beyond two years from the initial roundtable. If leadership accountability is key, delays in implementation suggest accountability remains optional.
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