Huriyya Dauda Lawal, wife of the Zamfara State Governor, has called for increased collaboration to advance women's empowerment and gender inclusion across Nigeria. She made the appeal during the National Women Mega Empowerment and Rally 2026 held at the MKO Abiola National Stadium in Abuja. The event, themed "The Power of 10 Million: One Voice, One Movement, One Choice," drew over 35,000 women from various parts of the country. Lawal described the rally as a transformative movement aimed at positioning women as key contributors to national development.
In her statement, issued through her Press Secretary Rabi Yusuf, Lawal commended the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, for what she termed visionary leadership in improving women's welfare. She emphasized that empowering women strengthens families and communities, and reaffirmed Zamfara State's commitment to supporting women through education, economic opportunities, and inclusive governance. Lawal also urged beneficiaries of the Renewed Hope Agenda empowerment initiative to use the support they received productively.
The rally was attended by the First Lady of Nigeria, Oluremi Tinubu, wives of top government officials, and other stakeholders in women's development. Organizers described the gathering as a unifying platform to amplify women's voices and drive collective action toward gender equality. Lawal reiterated the importance of sustained investment in women as a pathway to national progress.
Huriyya Lawal champions women's empowerment while operating within a state structure where female participation in governance remains limited. Zamfara has not had a woman elected to executive or legislative office in over two decades. Her call for inclusion contrasts with the absence of women in decision-making roles in the state. National rallies may inspire, but without structural change in states like Zamfara, the impact remains symbolic.
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