By Maryam Suleiman Yusuf

Nigeria and China have strengthened bilateral cooperation on women’s empowerment and sustainable development through a series of high-level engagements in Beijing and Jilin Province, led by Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dr. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim.

The Minister co-hosted the first-ever Nigeria–China Women’s Infrastructure Investment Forum in Beijing, organised in collaboration with Chinese partners under the coordination of the Mutual Commitment Group. The forum, themed “Investing in Nigeria’s Future: Harnessing Gender-Responsive Infrastructure for Sustainable Growth and Social Resilience,” brought together senior government officials, legislators, investors and development partners from both countries.

A key highlight of the event was the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on “Enhancing the Participation of Women in Nigeria’s Gas Sector,” which aims to promote clean energy access and support women-led enterprises, especially in the area of clean cooking initiatives.

According to the Minister, this MoU builds on existing strategic initiatives under the government’s Renewed Hope Agenda, such as the Women Agro Value Expansion (WAVE) Programme and the national Safe Spaces and Sexual Assault Referral Centres (SARCs) framework. It creates an integrated blueprint for empowering women and strengthening social protection systems, which prioritises inclusive growth and gender-responsive development.

 “Through partnerships like these, we are moving from advocacy to execution. Empowering women through inclusive investment is not just social policy, it is a national development strategy,” she said.

From the Chinese side, Group Managing Director of Mutual Commitment Group, Liu Zhaolong, commended the partnership as a demonstration of unity and shared commitment to long-term cooperation between both nations. Also present was the Chairperson of the House Committee on Women’s Affairs, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, who pledged legislative backing for ongoing efforts to enhance women’s inclusion and participation in key sectors of the economy.

Following the forum in Beijing, Dr Sulaiman-Ibrahim led a Nigerian delegation to Jilin Agricultural University and the Changchun Modern Agricultural Base in China’s Jilin Province to explore opportunities in agricultural technology transfer and women’s economic empowerment. The visit, held under the theme “Technology Empowerment and Win-Win Cooperation,” was facilitated by the Mutual Commitment Group.

During a trilateral symposium at Jilin Agricultural University, discussions focused on expanding scientific and educational cooperation in agriculture. The university introduced the proposed Four-Floor (4F) Training Programme, designed to promote agricultural innovation, capacity building and women-focused agribusiness training in Nigeria.

Dr Sulaiman-Ibrahim lauded the university’s achievements and its “Science and Technology Yard” model, which integrates technological innovation with practical agricultural learning. She said technologies such as smart greenhouse farming, drip irrigation and integrated water–fertiliser management could help Nigerian women achieve flexible, profitable work in agriculture.

“We look forward to introducing such technologies to help women achieve flexible employment near their homes, turning the ‘vegetable basket’ into a sustainable ‘golden bowl’ for income generation,” she said.

At the Changchun Agricultural Expo Park, the Nigerian delegation participated in the signing of a cooperation agreement under Nigeria’s Women Agro Value Expansion (WAVE) Programme, marking another milestone in women’s empowerment and agricultural partnership. The team also visited the SheAi Agricultural Science and Technology Base, where they observed innovation across the agricultural value chain, including virus-free seedling propagation and intelligent greenhouse operations.

The Mutual Commitment Group reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Nigeria in establishing demonstration greenhouse bases, training programmes for women and technology exchange initiatives in alignment with the Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

Dr Sulaiman-Ibrahim described the engagements as operational blueprints for change, adding that both sides are committed to ensuring transparency, accountability and measurable results. “Jilin’s experience in agricultural technology and green ecology offers inspiration for Nigeria’s transformation. By investing in women, we are investing in the future of Nigeria,” she said.

The series of engagements underscores the growing partnership between Nigeria and China, which focuses on inclusive investment, technology exchange, and women’s empowerment as drivers of sustainable national development.