The Federal Capital Territory Administration said it is focusing on green growth and inclusive enterprise, declaring that women entrepreneurs must be placed at the centre of Abuja’s long-term sustainability agenda.
The FCT Minister of State, Dr. Mariya Mahmoud, stated this while delivering the opening keynote at the 2026 Global Africa Women’s Sustainability Conference for Women Entrepreneurs, organised by ImpactHER.
Mahmoud said the Administration under FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, is aligning its development priorities with global sustainability benchmarks, including climate-resilient enterprises, circular-economy practices and environmentally responsible production.
This is contained in a press statement issued by the minister’s Special Adviser on Media, Austine Elemue, which declared that the FCTA is committed to building a business environment that allows women-owned enterprises to scale.
Speaking on the theme, “Rethink, Reinvent, Regenerate,” Mahmoud described the conference as a timely challenge to African women entrepreneurs to disrupt outdated models and push for innovative, sustainable economic systems.
She noted that women across the continent are already reshaping sectors such as agriculture, renewable energy, fashion and fintech, but continue to face structural constraints, including limited access to finance, markets, technology and policy support.
Mahmoud stressed the value of platforms like the Africa Green Conference in influencing policy direction and amplifying women-led solutions. She added that the FCT is currently implementing reforms aimed at improving infrastructure, strengthening capacity-building initiatives and easing regulatory processes for entrepreneurs.
“The future we seek, prosperous, equitable, and sustainable, cannot be achieved without the active leadership of women. Women entrepreneurs are not just participants in the economy; they are architects of a new development paradigm,” she stated.
She also commended ImpactHER for hosting the gathering and for its work across the continent.
Earlier, ImpactHER Founder, Efe Ukala, said global policy and investment frameworks must catch up with the innovations already being driven by African women.
She argued that African women are not trailing but leading in sustainable enterprise, adding that the conference represents “a bold call to reposition women not as beneficiaries, but as architects of a sustainable global African future.”
Ukala highlighted the value of the global green economy estimated at more than $5 trillion, and noted that African women remain locked out of major markets due to barriers such as lack of certification, regulatory compliance hurdles and limited access to global standards.
She said the conference aims to bridge these gaps by equipping women with tools, networks and knowledge to access formal markets, secure certifications and expand their businesses globally. She added that ImpactHER has supported over 250,000 women across Africa and the Caribbean.
