Women affairs ministry harps on sustainable empowerment for Garki Chiefdom Council

Further to its resolve to push development down to the rural areas across the country, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs has reassured the Garki Chiefdom Council of its desire to enhance the lives of women and children in the community through sustainable empowerment initiatives and schemes.

The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye gave the assurance today when she visited the Garki Chiefdom, Abuja Municipal Council along with some top management staff of the Ministry

While highlighting on her Ministry’s outlined programs towards scaling up the welfare of women and vulnerable children, she stated that the Renewed Hope Agenda of the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration is fully committed to creating an enabling environment for all categories of Nigerians to be empowered so as to ensure poverty alleviation amongst them as well as enable for peaceful and safe society for all.

The Minister informed that one of the reasons why she visited the Chiefdom was to further sensitize the community on the consequences of iron breast pressing, which is being practised on some young girls as a traditional right meant to prevent early male attraction to them, “these practises are totally unacceptable and form part of condemnable and harmful practices against the female gender which must be stamped out” she added.

Barrister Kennedy-Ohanenye observed that current research has shown that such traditional rights are behind time and that it behoves on the Chiefdom, religious leaders as well as the government to ensure that such practices become a thing of the past.

Besides, she added, the tradition could lead to cancer in the affected girls as it is capable of creating nipple challenges in their future life as well the production of sour breast milk for their infants which is dangerous to the growth and development of new born babies

She therefore urged the Council to join hands with government by taking the campaign against the practice to the people at the grassroots

Responding, the District Head of Garki Chiefdom Council, HRH (Amb) Emmanuel Gade assured that the Council will support the efforts of government towards bringing an end to the tradition

He pledged the commitment of the Council to the programmes and initiatives of the Ministry in line with the policy thrust of the present administration

High point of the event includes the Conferment of Sarauniyan Mata of Pigba Community on the Honourable Minister by His Royal Majesty, Chief (Amb) Emmanuel Gade