Ministry of Women Affairs pledges commitment to gender equality, empowerment

The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs successfully held its 24th Regular National Council on Women Affairs from October 28-31, 2024, in Jos, Plateau State, with a focus on advancing gender equality, women’s empowerment, and the welfare of vulnerable groups in Nigeria.

The event, held at Centre La Sharp Events, brought together representatives from government, the private sector, and civil society to discuss and endorse initiatives aimed at improving the lives of women and children across the nation.

In her keynote address, Honourable Minister of Women Affairs Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to fostering gender equality, empowering women, and protecting children in Nigeria.

“It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all to the 24th Annual Meeting of the National Council on Women Affairs. I am truly delighted to be here in Plateau State, the Home of Peace and Tourism, which is also my birth State,” she said.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim highlighted significant achievements, including the Nigeria For Women Project, which has provided over N3 billion in financial support to 67,358 women in six pilot states.

In addition, the Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE) has reached 6.7 million adolescents across seven states with skills training and education support. She also noted progress in addressing gender-based violence (GBV), with 35 states adopting the Child Rights Act and 29 states implementing the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act.

The Ministry’s accomplishments include:

Implementing the World Bank-assisted Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria (ANRiN) project to improve maternal and child nutrition.

Partnering with the Federal Ministry of Agriculture to support small-scale women farmers.

Training over 70,000 women entrepreneurs through online programs.

Providing palliatives and medical assistance to vulnerable women.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim emphasized the importance of education, particularly for girls, as a foundational solution to societal challenges. She urged stakeholders to unite under the Renewed Hope Agenda, which seeks to foster equity, opportunity, and prosperity for all Nigerians.

“As a nation, we must move beyond ethnic and regional divides to build a Nigeria that prioritizes equity, opportunity, and prosperity for every citizen,” she said.

In a special address, Plateau State Governor Barr. Caleb Mutfwang, represented by his Special Assistant on Gender, Barr. Olivia Daziam, called on the Federal Government to standardize orphanage operations to better protect children. He also encouraged attendees to strengthen their efforts against violence targeting women, children, and vulnerable groups.

Ambassador Gabriel Aduda, the Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, confirmed that all submitted proposals were carefully reviewed to promote the interests of women and children.

He commended the Plateau State Government for its strides in gender equality, including appointing women to key positions, and assured that the Ministry would continue creating opportunities for upliftment in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

The event concluded with the presentation of awards to individuals who have significantly contributed to the Ministry’s mission, as well as goodwill messages from organizations such as UNICEF, UN Women, and the National Council of Women’s Societies (NCWS).