The Opportunity
Nigeria is one of Africa's largest economies, with a GDP of $252 billion and a population of 232 million. As the country advances its growth agenda, expanding women's economic participation offers one of the most significant opportunities to strengthen that trajectory. For companies, investors, and partners, closing gaps in leadership, financing, and workplace conditions can unlock higher productivity, stronger firm performance, and wider market reach. Addressing related pressures such as unpaid care work and gender-based violence and harassment (GBVH) further supports a more competitive and resilient private sector.
The scale of economic and business opportunity is compelling. Advancing women's participation in leadership, employment, and entrepreneurship strengthen competitiveness, deepens talent pools and could add up to $22.9 billion to Nigeria's GDP across key sectors. Realizing that potential will depend on coordinated, measurable action: companies strengthening practices and representation, investors mobilizing gender-smart capital, and partners scaling solutions that work.
Targeted private sector action can help companies—and the broader economy—operate more efficiently, compete more effectively, and grow faster.
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$252B Nigeria's GDP — one of Africa's largest economies
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$22.9B Additional GDP unlockable by closing gender participation gaps
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232M Population, with rapid growth driving rising labor market pressures
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2024–30 Aligned with World Bank Group Gender Strategy
Program Approach
The program addresses the most critical barriers to women's economic participation through three pillars:
Program Components
Through corporate participation, the program brings together leading companies, investors, and partners to commit to measurable actions that close gender gaps—turning individual corporate commitments into industry-wide impact and enabling stronger performance, new market opportunities, and accelerated job creation at scale.
Our Partners
Last updated: June 2026