APC committed to expanding opportunities for women – Secretary
June 29, 2026 8:28 am
Chairman of the All Progressives Congress in Italy, China Ibezim, his counterpart in France ,Hajia Suzuki, the National Secretary, Sen Surajudeen Basiru and Chairman of the party in Poland, Mr Adekunle Ayoola.
The National Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, Senator Surajudeen Basiru, has called on Nigerian women in the diaspora to mobilise support for the continuity of President Bola Tinubu’s reforms and the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Basiru said the APC was committed to expanding opportunities for women within the party and in public governance, while positioning gender inclusion as a major pillar of its political philosophy.
He stated this while delivering the keynote address titled, “From Renewed Hope to Lasting Impact: Diaspora Women Advancing Impact Continuity,” at the APC Diaspora/Global Women Summit 2026 held in Rome, Italy.
A copy of the keynote address was made available to our correspondent on Sunday.
The summit brought together APC women leaders and members from across the diaspora.
He said Nigerian women in the diaspora are among the nation’s greatest strategic assets, excelling in academics, medicine, law, engineering, entrepreneurship, diplomacy, finance, technology and public service.
Basiru stated that, beyond their professional accomplishments, women in the diaspora remain active stakeholders in Nigeria’s formal and informal economy through investments, remittances, philanthropy, skills transfer and advocacy, adding that their achievements abroad are a testament to the limitless potential of Nigerian women when given opportunities to excel.
He said, “The APC acknowledges that diaspora women are not mere supporters of government programmes but strategic partners in the realisation of the Renewed Hope Agenda.
“You are ambassadors of Nigeria, promoting our democratic values and serving as a bridge between Nigeria and the international community. Your international connections, technical know-how, financial resources and policy insights can contribute immensely to national development.”
As the country gathers momentum for the 2027 general elections, Basiru urged the women to foster civic engagement, counter misinformation and disinformation, mobilise support for democratic governance, mentor young women and expand the party’s global outreach.
He said, “As a party, we are committed to increasing opportunities for women within the structures of the party and in public governance. We believe inclusive leadership achieves better governance outcomes.
“The party will, therefore, continue to encourage the participation of women in political leadership, policy formulation, party administration, electoral mobilisation and democratic governance at all levels.
“We also recognise the need to strengthen the party’s collaboration with our diaspora chapters by creating more structured platforms for engagement, knowledge sharing, policy dialogue, investment promotion and leadership development. Your ideas, experiences and constructive contributions are invaluable as we continue to build a stronger, more responsive political party.”
Speaking on the achievements of Tinubu, Basiru said the difficult but necessary decision to remove the fuel subsidy had freed up fiscal space for greater investment in infrastructure and social development, while crude oil production had increased to over 1.7 million barrels per day, boosting government revenue and improving investor confidence.
He also said the Tinubu administration had championed the implementation of local government financial autonomy following the landmark Supreme Court judgment and initiated national conversations on the establishment of state police as part of broader constitutional and security reforms.
The senator stated that the administration had also embarked on major infrastructure projects, including the Lagos-Calabar Coastal Highway, the Lagos-Sokoto Super Highway and the reconstruction of the Abuja-Kaduna-Zaria-Kano Road, all aimed at enhancing connectivity, boosting commercial activities and accelerating regional development.
The APC National Secretary also said Nigeria’s foreign reserves had exceeded $51 billion under Tinubu’s administration, the highest level recorded in the past 17 years.
Basiru added that many women serving in Tinubu’s administration had contributed significantly to the success of the Renewed Hope Agenda and urged women in the diaspora to rally support for the continuity of the APC-led government beyond 2027.
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