By Nnasom David

Abuja — Nigeria’s First Lady, Oluremi Tinubu, has called for deliberate empowerment and early leadership mentoring for women in the Federal Civil Service, saying stronger Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and improved governance can only be achieved when women are fully included in leadership and decision-making processes.

Speaking at the 2026 International Civil Service Conference in Abuja themed “Reforms, Resilience and Resolve,” Mrs Tinubu said empowering female civil servants would strengthen public institutions, improve service delivery and drive national development.

The First Lady made the remarks during the launch of the Inclusive Network for Supporting Progressive Leadership Innovation Reforms and Equity for Women (INSPIRE), an initiative designed to promote mentorship, workplace inclusion, innovation and professional advancement for women across the civil service.

According to her, women remain indispensable to the operations of government institutions, contributing significantly as administrators, professionals, technical officers and institutional leaders.

“When women are empowered, institutions become stronger, governance improves and citizens benefit from better service delivery,” she stated.

Mrs Tinubu stressed that beyond increasing the number of women in public offices, there must be intentional efforts to prepare and position them for leadership responsibilities from the early stages of their careers.

“I am pleased to learn that this initiative is designed to reach women across different levels of the civil service, from junior officers to executive level. This is most important because leadership development should not begin only when a woman becomes a Permanent Secretary,” she said.

“It must begin early. A young officer who is properly mentored today may become the Permanent Secretary, Head of Service, Minister or a national leader tomorrow.”

She warned that failing to invest in female leadership development at the foundational level could weaken institutional growth and limit the capacity of public institutions to deliver effectively.

The First Lady also emphasized that representation alone was not enough, insisting that women must be actively involved in shaping policies and influencing decisions within government institutions.

Commending the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, for championing reforms and inclusive leadership, Mrs Tinubu described the INSPIRE initiative as a strategic platform capable of transforming the Nigerian public service.

She added that the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu prioritises inclusion, productivity, economic growth and institutional efficiency.

Mrs Tinubu further urged female civil servants to embrace innovation, digital transformation, integrity and continuous self-improvement, while calling on male officers to support fairness, equal opportunity and respect in the workplace.

According to her, the long-term success of INSPIRE would be measured by its impact on leadership succession, institutional reforms and sustainable transformation within Nigeria’s civil service.