Women Affairs Ministry Prioritizes Grassroots Devt Of Women 

By Oduyemi Odumade

The Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has pledged to prioritize meaningful investments, ensuring activities directly beneficial To women at the grassroots.

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Uju Kennedy-Ohaneye stated this at a one-day Wealth Empowerment for Women Initiative (WeWin) Stakeholders Conference organized by the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs and Social Development at the National Assembly Complex in Abuja.

She expressed displeasure on alleged frivolous spending by the ministry before she came on board rather than addressing real issues concerning the development of women in the society.

According to her, millions of dollars have been spent on women meetings that have been wasteful and unimpactful.

She commended the Committee for its supportive role in ensuring that the right things are done by the Ministry with regard to proper spending.

The minister insisted that going forward, the ministry will no longer partner organisations interested in advocacy, meetings, and programmes.

She also warned that women must desist from paying meaningless advocacy to her office, even as she stressed that such is part of the problems facing the country.

The minister further challenged the United Nations and other donors on accountability for monies they bring into the Ministry.

In her address of welcome, the  Chairman Committee on Woman Affairs

and Social Development

Kafilat Ogbara, said the conference was to discuss how to uplift and empower women in society by creating an environment to that effect.

She said it is not enough to provide a short-term solution but there is need for establishment of a long-term approach.

“Today’s gathering is very timely to initiate a connection for the empowerment of women in various spheres, such as Agriculture, politics, business, and government. We are here to discuss how to uplift and empower women in the society. Where women are empowered the contribution to the economy is enormous. We must create an environment that fosters the empowerment of women. As we strive for women empowerment, we must consider the sustainability of our policies”, she said.

Also Speaking Speaker of the House, Dr. Tajudeen Abbas said women empowerment and wealth creation is a global concern and Nigeria has continued to play a critical role in promoting women’s agenda.

The Speaker who was represented by Deputy Whip of the House, Omowunmi Onanuga, noted that the roundtable is one of the avenues used to join forces with the global community to drive the vision of creating an enabling platform for women empowerment through wealth creation and inclusion in governance.

Edited By Grace Namiji