The International Finance Corporation (IFC), Nigerian Exchange Group (NGX Group), and Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) have unveiled the Nigeria Gender Country Program (NGCP), a new initiative aimed at accelerating gender inclusion and expanding women’s economic participation in Nigeria.
The announcement was made during a high-level virtual CEO Roundtable attended by chief executives and senior business leaders from NGX-listed companies, IFC client organisations and LCCI member companies ahead of the programme’s formal launch.
The initiative is expected to strengthen efforts to close gender gaps in leadership, employment, entrepreneurship and access to economic opportunities while supporting inclusive growth and private-sector competitiveness.
Speaking at the event, the Director-General of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), Dr. Emomotimi Agama, described gender inclusion as a critical economic growth strategy rather than a corporate social responsibility obligation.
According to him, reducing gender disparities could unlock substantial economic value for Nigeria while improving business performance and national competitiveness.
“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,” Agama said.
He added that businesses should move beyond viewing inclusion as a compliance requirement and instead recognise it as a strategic driver of productivity, innovation and sustainable growth.
Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of NGX Group, Temi Popoola, said the Nigeria Gender Country Program provides an opportunity to accelerate progress in promoting women’s participation across the economy.
He noted that the initiative would support greater access for women to leadership positions, quality jobs, finance, technology and markets.
“The Nigeria Gender Country Program presents a significant opportunity to deepen impact and accelerate progress across corporate Nigeria,” Popoola said.
He added that increasing women’s participation would help build a more competitive, resilient and inclusive private sector while unlocking significant economic value.
Also speaking, IFC Head of Office in Lagos, Christian Mulamula, highlighted the economic cost of gender inequality across Africa.
According to him, gender disparities continue to result in trillions of dollars in lost productivity and missed economic opportunities on the continent.
Mulamula said the programme would focus on practical and measurable actions capable of improving business performance while promoting inclusive economic growth.
Meanwhile, Director-General of LCCI, Chinyere Almona, stressed the importance of leadership commitment and accountability in ensuring the programme delivers meaningful results.
She noted that sustained support from business leaders would be essential for achieving long-term success.
The Nigeria Gender Country Program is built around three key strategic priorities.
The first is increasing women’s representation in leadership and decision-making positions across businesses and institutions.
The second focuses on improving access to quality employment opportunities for women.
The third seeks to expand access to productive assets, including finance, technology and markets, particularly for women-led businesses.
The initiative builds on previous gender-focused programmes and aims to create a coordinated framework that brings together regulators, development institutions, business leaders and private-sector organisations to drive measurable impact nationwide.
The partners are expected to formally launch the programme during a physical event scheduled for July 9, 2026.
The NGCP also builds on the achievements of the Nigeria2Equal initiative, a multi-stakeholder programme led by IFC in partnership with NGX Group to reduce gender gaps in leadership, employment and entrepreneurship.
Nigeria2Equal brought together leading companies to make measurable commitments aimed at increasing women’s participation as employees, business leaders and entrepreneurs within corporate value chains.
According to IFC, narrowing gender gaps in Nigeria has the potential to significantly boost economic growth, with previous estimates indicating that greater inclusion could add billions of dollars to the country’s Gross Domestic Product (GDP).
Over the years, NGX Group has played a key role in promoting gender-inclusive business practices through partnerships, research programmes, peer-learning platforms and advocacy initiatives.
The exchange has collaborated with IFC and other stakeholders to support women’s leadership, entrepreneurship, workplace inclusion and sustainable finance across Nigeria’s corporate landscape.
Stakeholders believe the Nigeria Gender Country Program will consolidate these efforts into a broader national platform capable of delivering measurable outcomes for women and women-led businesses while contributing to sustainable economic development.
