LStakeholders Tuesday converged on Abuja to renew their advocacy against any form of gender-based violence against women and girl-child.
The programme which was organised by the African Development Bank (AfDB) is in conjunction with the UNWomen and the Federal Government of Nigeria.
Themed High-level Dialogue Investment in Gender Equality and Ending Violence against Women for Rights and Development, the programme coincided with the 16 Day of Activism against Gender based Violence.
The Director-General AfDB, Nigeria Country Department, Dr. Abdul Kamara, the UNWomen Country Representatives to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Beatrice Eyong,United Nations Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, HE. Mohammed Malick Fall, the Deputy Ambassador European Union delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, HE. Zissmos Vegos all delivered speeches at the meeting.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, who was a keynote speaker at the event, assured that the ministry was poised to work with all stakeholders to aid women and girls development in the country.
She insisted that to achieve meaningful progress, all commitments made must translate to actions with evidence based monitoring and evaluation.
“Strengthening policy and investment on women and girl will help close gender based violence which has now become a global trend,”
The Mexico Ambassador in Nigeria, His Excellency, Alfredo Miranda pledged his country readiness to cooperate with Nigeria to end the scourge.
“We will join Nigeria to campaign against all forms of violence and help foster development for women in the country,” adding: “No more excuses for gender based violence,”
In a remarks, the Chairperson, Nigerian Governor’s Spouses Forum, Amb. Prof Olufolake Abdulrasaq noted that advocacy for gender equality demands more than just policy declaration but also deliberate action capable of championing the course.
Kwara state according to the First Lady has positioned women in leadership positions via the much craved 35% affirmative action, saying: “We believe when they are in leadership positions, they would be able to sustain the advocacy.”
“We are formally committed to see the gender policy becoming a law. By that we mean, policy and framework that prioritise women and girl-child welfare not forgetting the boy-child,” she said.
Giving an assurance, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Mr Emeka Vitalis Obi, assured that the ministry will continue to implement gender responsiveness budget that will aid transparency, identify existing disparity against women in the country.
