The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, has said it was seeking the setting aside of 35 per cent of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) intervention fund, and the Nigeria Incentive-based Risk Sharing for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL) for women in agriculture.
It added that it was also working to ensure the direct provision of agricultural inputs such as fertilisers, seeds/seeding, and simple technologies for women in agriculture in order to enhance their productivity.
Its minister, Hajiya Zainab Maina, stated this at the weekend in Abuja, on the commemoration of the 2014 International Women’s Day (IWD), held on the theme “Equity for women is progress for all’ and subthemes; Inspiring change achievements and challenges of the MDG’s is it affects women and girls.”
Maina decried the non attainment of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) that would directly impact women’s lives, despite all progresses made in other areas since its inception.
She said several interventions are needed in achieving the targets of gender equity and women empowerment (MDG 3), reducing infant mortality (MDG 4) and environmental sustainability (MDG 7).
She said: “It is my conviction that if we are to succeed in our national transformation strides we must give adequate attention to the attainment of gender equity. We also know that appropriate focus on the development of women and girls would lead to healthier and stronger families, communities and countries.”
In her remarks, the Resident Coordinator of the United Nation (UN) system in Nigeria, Jean Gough, said this year’s theme for the IWD was appropriate, adding that the implementation of MDGs was winding down globally.
