MINISTER OF WOMEN AFFAIRS COMMENDS THE PLANNED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE FMBN TO PROVIDE HOUSING FINANCING SOLUTIONS 27-02-25
By Sadiq Aminu The Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, has commended the planned partnership between the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) to provide housing financing solutions aimed at empowering women and increasing home ownership.
In a statement by her Special Adviser on Media, Jonathan Eze, the Minister emphasized that housing poverty remains one of the systemic barriers Nigerian women face despite constituting a significant portion of the population. She described the collaboration as a step toward bridging the gender gap in home ownership.
“Housing is a key pillar to women’s financial independence,” she stated, noting that the traditional belief that only men provide shelter is outdated. She added that lack of home ownership continues to limit women’s access to financial capital.
Recalling her visits to Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps, Sulaiman-Ibrahim expressed concern over the hardship women and girls endure in these settings, highlighting that many families outside IDP camps face similar housing challenges. She stressed the need for structured interventions to provide housing solutions for women.
During the visit, the Managing Director of FMBN, Mr. Shehu Usman Osidi, lauded the Minister for her contributions to national development, affirming the Bank’s commitment to policies and initiatives that positively impact Nigerian women.
“Your appointment is a testament to your commitment to national service and to the upliftment of women in our society,” Osidi said.
He outlined FMBN’s various housing finance products under the National Housing Fund (NHF) scheme, which includes single-digit mortgage loans, individual construction loans, home renovation loans, cooperative housing development loans, rent-to-own schemes, and non-interest mortgage products.
“Women in Housing is where we work jointly to build housing estates where the professionals and artisans are all women, and it will promote financial inclusion,” he explained.
He urged the Ministry to support the identification of key intervention areas for collaboration to ensure no woman is left behind in the push for housing inclusivity.