Women’s economic empowerment is not just a moral imperative—it’s an economic no-brainer. When women thrive, economies thrive.

Analyse

Multiple studies confirm a direct correlation between gender equality in economic participation and GDP growth. For example, the **IMF (2018)** found that closing gender gaps could increase GDP by an average of **35%** in some regions, while **McKinsey (2015)** estimated a **$12–28 trillion** boost to global GDP by 2025 if women’s workforce participation matched men’s. Okonjo-Iweala’s framing—both as a *moral* and *economic* imperative—aligns with consensus among economists and policymakers. Her statement reflects widely cited data rather than an unverified opinion.

Achtergrond

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, then a board chair at GAVI and former Nigerian Finance Minister, has long advocated for gender-inclusive economic policies. The claim echoes priorities of the **UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 5)** and reports like the **World Bank’s *Women, Business and the Law*** series, which track legal barriers to women’s economic participation. Her 2018 remark predates but aligns with later COVID-19 recovery analyses highlighting women’s roles in resilient economies.

Samenvatting verdict

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala’s 2018 claim that women’s economic empowerment drives broader economic growth is strongly supported by extensive research from institutions like the IMF, World Bank, and McKinsey Global Institute.

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