On Tuesday, 11th November 2025, the development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) attended the commissioning of the Gender Centre of Excellence at the National Institute for Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS) in Abuja, named in honour of Her Excellency, Senator Oluremi Tinubu CON. The event was attended by several dignitaries, including Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the Governor of Plateau State and his wife, as well as leaders from government, civil society, and academia.
Delivering the message on behalf of dRPC, Dr. Judith-Ann Walker, Executive Director, emphasised that the Gender Centre “represents more than just a physical space. It is a bold declaration that gender equity is central to Nigeria’s development plans and vision, and that the lived realities of women and girls must inform public policy.” She highlighted that for over three decades, dRPC has worked to advance development knowledge and action with gender as a cross-cutting lens, and noted the persistent gaps in policy areas such as health, economic empowerment, education, and political representation that continue to undermine inclusive governance.
Dr. Walker also reflected on dRPC’s long-standing collaboration with NIPSS since 2006, supporting the integration of gender-responsive processes into policy advice, research, and the training of public servants. She noted that the establishment of the Gender Centre is both timely and strategic, providing a platform for evidence-based policy dialogue, gender-responsive research, and capacity building for legislators, public servants, and civil society actors.
She highlighted dRPC’s role in supporting the Centre in its formative stages, including the development and domestication of the National Women’s Economic Empowerment Policy across several states, as well as engagements in high-level forums such as the Nigerian Economic Society Conference and the National Council on Women, which helped advance the Centre’s vision.
Dr. Walker commended the leadership of NIPSS and Senator Oluremi Tinubu for championing the initiative, noting that the Gender Centre sends a “powerful message that gender equality is not a side issue, but a national priority.” She reaffirmed dRPC’s commitment to supporting the Gender and Public Policy Centre with research, advocacy, and networks to ensure it becomes a beacon of transformative policy development in Nigeria and across Africa.
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