The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister (Mrs) Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye has stated that inspite of the dwindling economic challenges facing the nation, the Federal Government remains committed to the empowerment of the feminine gender in order to enhance their economic status to enable them contribute meaningfully to the socio-economic development of Nigeria as well as their respective families.
The Minister, who gave the assurance during an interaction with journalists in Abuja, stated further that women are naturally endowed and only need a boost through the creation of an enabling environment to excel and showcase these potentials.
When empowered, she said, the gender can also make invaluable input to the country’s objectives of poverty alleviation, job creation, reduction in out-of-school drop-outs, early marriages, as well as sexual and gender-based violence.
Kennedy-Ohanenye disclosed that this informed the Ministry’s decision, inspite of lean resources, to change the narratives, using various initiatives that will enhance their development through access to funds, skill acquisition, improved seedlings for quantum agricultural produce, among others, so as to enable them take their position in society in accordance with contemporary global realities.
The Minister explained that, some strategic moves made by the Ministry include the hosting of the Nigeria For Women Programme early in the year to among others, enhance partnership with traditional rulers that will ensure the actualization of the new narratives at the grassroots, setting up of the e-commerce portal to enable the gender access funds and grants, the supply of sustainable empowerment equipments to 15 States of the Federation as well as the planting of high yield rice and maize seedling in some states.
She informed further that the Ministry will continue to explore innovative mechanisms and collaborate with relevant stakeholders in order to ensure the realization of its mandate.
This, according to her, will include a fund raising programme in the month of October to enable the Ministry raise monies, agricultural equipment, skill acquisition tools, etc, for the empowerment of more women, especially at the grassroots.
The Minister, therefore, called on Development Partners, Non-Governmental Organisations and well- meaning Nigerians to support the Ministry in the realization of its mandate in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration.
Signed
Mrs. Grace Njoku
Head, Information and Public Relations
