First Lady of Nigeria, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, at the International Civil Service Conference (ICSC) 2026, held under the theme “Reforms, Resilience and Results” formally launched INSPIRE Nigeria — the Inclusive Network for Supporting Progressive Leadership, Innovation, Reform and Equity for Women has told civil servants that the new programme must reshape workplaces so women can rise from junior ranks to the highest echelons of government.
The initiative forms part of wider federal commitments, including the National Gender Policy 2021–2026 and the Women’s Economic Empowerment Policy 2023–2028, aimed at translating policy into binding institutional practice.
The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu described INSPIRE as central to the Renewed Hope agenda’s drive for inclusion, productivity and national transformation.
“This initiative speaks to the kind of civil service we must continue to build — one that supports its workforce, rewards competence, promotes fairness, encourages innovation, creates opportunities for professional growth and truly reflects equity and excellence”.
Addressing over 5,000 delegates from 16 countries including, the First Lady of Nigeria called for early and sustained leadership development.
“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, and this is most important because leadership development should not begin only when a woman becomes a permanent secretary. A young officer who is properly mentored today may become the permanent secretary, head of service, minister, or a national leader tomorrow.”
She linked women’s empowerment in the civil service to stronger institutions and better governance.
“When women are empowered, institutions become stronger, governance improves and citizens benefit from better service delivery. That is why initiatives like INSPIRE are not just important for women alone, they are vital for national progress”.
She urged men within the service to continue to lend their support to the women.
“I encourage you to continue your partnership in building workplaces that promote fairness, respect and equal opportunity for all.”
The First Lady thanked the Head of the Federal Civil Service, Didi Walson‑Jack, for convening the conference and driving inclusive leadership reforms, and she applauded UN Women and development partners for backing the programme.
“I must note that the success of INSPIRE will not be measured only by today’s launch, but by the impact created in the years ahead. Our nation needs institutions that can think, adapt, innovate, and compete globally.”
Head of the Civil Service of the Federation, Walson-Jack, in her address described the INSPIRE programme as a strategic platform designed to remove structural barriers limiting women’s advancement in public service and to promote inclusive leadership across all levels of government.
According to the Head of Service, the programme will focus on building institutional capacity, strengthening professional confidence, and creating structured opportunities for mentorship and leadership development.
She said the initiative is meant to tackle long-standing obstacles such as limited access to mentorship, weak sponsorship networks, and institutional constraints that have affected the career progression of women in the civil service.
Earlier, delivering a goodwill message, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim, described INSPIRE as arriving “at precisely the right moment” and urged participants to convert conference commitments into tangible change.
She noted that the gathering sends a strong and a timely message that governance reforms remain a national priority and that the Nigerian civil service continues to occupy a central place in national development aspirations.
Hajia Sulaiman-Ibrahim highlighted the persistent gap between the large number of women in the federal workforce and their thin representation at senior levels.
“This is not a coincidence, it is a consequence of a legacy system that has some structural weaknesses. And it is a gap we can no longer afford,” she said, invoking President Bola Tinubu’s vision that “the greatest tools for sustainable, scalable transformational development of our nation is the empowerment of our women.
“The Federal Ministry of Human Affairs, Social Development commits its full engagement to the successful implementation of the INSPIRE Initiative. We will bring our policy leadership, technical expertise and institutional partnership to bear.”