FG, UN, World bank partners on gender inclusion, women empowerment in Nigeria

The Federal Government, United Nation Women and World Bank have put plans together to ensure that women are adequately represented in the next administration at all levels come 2023.

There was also an agreement to empower women, eliminate poverty and address issues that affect women and children in Nigeria.

This decision was made known at the 22nd Regular National Council on Women Affairs (NCWA) organized by the federal ministry of women affairs held in Abuja.

In her keynote address, the minister of women’s affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen said the theme for this year’s NCWA “Gender inclusivity and women economic empowerment; making the change work for women and children” is apt as it gives room to once again address issues concerning women and children in Nigeria.

She said it also provided a forum to monitor their achievements so far, share knowledge and exchange expertise as it relates to women and children.

The minister said “34 states have currently domesticated the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act of 2015 while 32 states have domesticated the Child Rights Act of 2003.

“The ministry has also been able to make available the National Sex Offenders Register and Referral Pathway at the federal and state levels, and increased the number of Safe Spaces for survivors of Gender-Based Violence (GBV).

“Since assuming office, we have prioritized GBV, social, and cultural inequalities and other harmful practices that disproportionately affect the health of women and children. We focused on inclusive interventions towards enhancing the socio-economic development of Nigeria for impactful outcomes in line with the Economic Sustainability Plan (ESP) and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

She called for improved funding for the ministry and realignment of its mandate with the core principle of enhancing social inclusion and poverty reduction.

In his address, the Country Director, of World Bank Nigeria, Mr Shubaham Chaudhuri, said the organisation is committed to investing in children, and women, creating jobs, and economic opportunities and strengthening governance.

According to him, if governments around the world want to eliminate poverty and desire that their nations prosper, then gender equality and women empowerment is absolutely critical.

Chaundhuri said “through the Supporting Women and Girls (SWAG) and Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) projects, the world bank supported the government in areas of education and empowerment. The most important thing to ensure the future of a country is to keep adolescent girls in school so that they can grow up to be powerful entrepreneurs and leaders.

“That is why we are closely working with the ministries of women’s affairs, education, finance and all the northern states on this agenda”.

United Nations Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mrs Beatrice Eyong said they are working towards promoting women’s representation in decision-making positions and the economic empowerment of women and girls.

Eyong said: “If we want to make the change work for women and girls, we have to increase women’s representation at the table and ensure that the rights of women and girls are respected as found in the conventions and additional texts and protocols ratified by the Government of Nigeria.”