A coalition of women groups from Nasarawa State have declared support for the Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, following protests by some staff of the ministry last week demanding her removal.

On September 10, staff of the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs had locked the minister out of her office in Abuja, chanting solidarity songs and accusing her of neglect and poor welfare conditions.

But during a women and youth stakeholders’ engagement in Lafia on Wednesday, the Coalition of Young Women in Politics urged dialogue instead of confrontation.

The convener, Habiba Umar-Iliyasu, argued that ministry staff should have engaged the minister directly rather than resorting to protests capable of causing unrest.

She said Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who represents Nasarawa in the Federal Executive Council (FEC), has made significant contributions through skill acquisition and empowerment programmes.

“It is with great humility and a deep sense of honour that I stand before you today at this landmark gathering… all here for a cause that is dear to our collective future: the inclusion and empowerment of women and youth in our democratic journey,” Umar-Iliyasu said.

She praised President Bola Tinubu and his wife, Oluremi Tinubu, for appointing Sulaiman-Ibrahim, describing the choice as “a visionary endorsement of competence, capacity, and commitment.”

The convener also commended Governor Abdullahi Sule for supporting the minister and creating an enabling environment for women and youth in the state. She highlighted Sulaiman-Ibrahim’s record in championing women’s economic and social inclusion, protecting children’s rights, and strengthening institutional responses to gender-based violence.

“We live in a time where frustration can easily turn into aggression, but we must always remember that dialogue is the lifeblood of democracy. It is through listening, engagement, negotiation, and mutual respect that we build bridges, not walls,” she added.

Nasarawa State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Humanitarian Services, Hauwa Jugbo, also urged women and youths to adopt dialogue in addressing grievances. She said Sule’s administration has consistently created platforms for engagement and supported initiatives that promote women’s and youths’ inclusion in governance.

Guest Speaker, Maryam Adamu, warned against confrontation, stressing that dialogue remains key to accessing the dividends of democracy. She commended the minister’s commitment to the Nigeria for Women Project, noting that about 450,000 women have already benefited, with plans to reach 4.5 million through finance, skills, and cooperative opportunities.