Nigeria Focusses on Empowerment for Adolescent and Women

The Nigerian Government says it is set to transform the lives and livelihoods of adolescent girls and women in underserved areas in the country using education and empowerment under the LUMINAH 2030 Initiative.

Minister of State for Education Professor Suwaiba Ahmad stated this during a high-level consultation in Abuja, Nigeria with Commissioners of Education from twelve pilot states selected across Nigeria for the initiative.

She said the ambitious LUMINAH 2030 Initiative is a multi-phase programme set to transform the lives of over one million underserved girls and women by the year 2030, urging state governments to become actively involved in the implemention.

“The LUMINAH 2030 is a national movement to dismantle exclusion, poverty, and silence, I urged state-level actors to take ownership of the programme through transparent and equitable implementation,” she said .

The Minister encouraged state Commissioners to leverage existing policies, partnerships, and innovations to accelerate delivery.

“With over 15 million out-of-school children in Nigeria—60% of whom are girls—LUMINAH 2030 seeks to disrupt the generational cycle of poverty by linking educational access with economic empowerment.

“The initiative’s sustainability will be underpinned by contributions from federal and state governments, the private sector, and international development partners.

“The Federal Ministry of Education remains fully committed to supporting the successful rollout of LUMINAH 2030 through policy backing, technical support, and strong partnerships. Together with the states, we will ensure that no girl is left behind as we build a more inclusive and empowered future for all,” she said.

According to her, the twelve pilot states were selected based on data indicating urgent need and potential for high impact stressing that the initiative adopts a phased approach that targets both school-aged girls and their female caregivers.

“The first phase begins with the Root Phase, which empowers women through financial literacy and vocational skills training, linking their economic progress to increased school enrollment for their daughters.

“The Stem Phase focuses on providing accelerated, culturally relevant basic education to out-of-school girls aged 5–15, using interactive learning models.

“Finally, the Bloom Phase supports adolescent girls aged 15–18 with access to senior secondary education, vocational training, and leadership development, thereby equipping them for a productive and empowered future,” she said.

State collaboration

Head of the LUMINAH 2030 Secretariat,

Mrs. Amina Buba Haruna, emphasised the importance of state collaboration in shaping inclusive, scalable, and context-sensitive solutions.

“This is not just a federal programme, it is a collective responsibility to ensure no girl or woman is left behind.

“The session served as a platform for harmonising state and federal goals, reviewing implementation pathways, and exchanging strategies to reach Nigeria’s most marginalized populations,” she said.

LUMINAH 2030 initiative is an acronym for Learning, Uniting, Modernising, Innovating, Nurturing, Accelerating, and Harmonizing.