Kalu Wants Foreign Husbands of Nigerian Women Granted Citizenship

*UN says one in 10 Nigerian women experience violence 

*FCT records over 1,000 GBV cases in 10 Days

Kuni Tyessi and Oghenevwede Ohwovoriole in Abuja and Ugo Aliogo in Lagos

The Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, yesterday opined that for equity and justice, foreign husbands of Nigerian women should be given citizenship by the country.
The speaker who stated this during the launch of: “Advocacy Hashtag and Signature Campaign” in continuation of the five dropped bills by the previous Assembly, said Nigerian men that are excited to marry people from other countries and get citizenship can extend the gesture to their women.

Represented by the Special Adviser to the Deputy Speaker and former Deputy Chairman, Human Rights Committee,  Hon. Karu Elisha, the deputy speaker said there was need to elevate the conversation surrounding the gender bills and articles contained in them for credibility and visibility,
He noted that 49 per cent of the women population need to understand the contents of the bills.
“We should not only speak about the five gender bills, but about the 49 per cent of women population that need to understand the five bills and the articles contained in them. That gives it credibility and visibility that is required around.
“A lot of people don’t understand what those bills actually entail. If I am to mention one, same Nigerian men that are excited to marry people from other countries and get citizenship can extend the gesture to women.

“So if you desire to marry a citizen of another country, you should be allowed to extend such to men of other countries.
“We have also seen women do excellently well in the legislature and also in the executive. Why can’t we expand the scope so that women can do more in the legislature? Women should not look at the National Assembly alone, but should extend to all platforms” he said.
In the same vein, the Executive Director of Women Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), Saudatu Mahdi, argued that Nigerian women have outgrown tokenism.

She said the struggle which needs commitment and dedication should also push that the  content of  the bills be translated for simplification and better understanding of the issues.
She said: “I like the idea of translating the issues surrounding the gender bills and it’s simplification. This is not anything new, but about equity, justice and productivity. We don’t want to be recipients, but contributors. We refuse tokenism.
“Whatever we do is for the next generation. This struggle needs dedication and commitment that has continued to short-change the 50 per cent of its population” she added.

Meanwhile, the United Nations (UN) Women Representative to Nigeria and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), Beatrice Eyong, has stated that 1 in 3 women have experienced violence globally in their lifetime. She added that the private sector has proven to be a good ally in reversing the  situation, stating that 22 per cent of private sector workers are women, which she said is remarkable compared to other fields.

Eyong spoke yesterday in Lagos during a regional dialogue with the private sector to advance gender equality and women empowerment.
She revealed that 65 per cent of women in Central Africa and 40 per cent in West Africa have experienced violence, adding that there is an urgent need for more investment efforts to prevent and eliminate violence against women and girls.

She hinted that the private sector has a critical role to play in advancing and ensuring that gender equality and women’s empowerment.
“This is the reason why UN women in our region and particularly in Nigeria has been engaged over the years with private sector to creating an enabling environment for women to access their full potential as economic actors.
“In Nigeria, UN women has worked to drive gender responsive procurement, increase access to finance for women business owners and explore how private sector can address violence against women and girls,” she stated.

She further explained that through the Women Empowerment Principles, (WEPs), programme, UN provides support to formulate and promote policies and practices to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in the workplace, marketplace and community.
The Chairperson of Women in Successful Careers (WISCAR), Mrs. Amina Oyabola, emphasised the need for immediate action and collective partnership between government and the private sector to address the challenges in funding for achieving gender equality by 2030.

“Realising true gender equality demands resolute and immediate action. Monumental challenges, especially in funding, persist.
“The additional investment needed for achieving gender equality by 2030 is estimated at $360 billion per year. A collective and active partnership among government, civil society, and the private sector is indispensable for tangible progress,” Oyabola stated.
In a separate event, the Pioneer Mandate Secretary for the Social Development Secretariat of  the Federal Capital Territory (SDSFCT),  Adedayo Laniyi, has disclosed that over 1,000 GBV cases were recorded within 10 days of her resumption of duties.

She made the disclosure during an interactive session with journalists and other stakeholders organised by SDSFCT in Abuja to kick-start 16 days of activism.
“What had only been a thousand and some paltry number 10 days ago has now showed up to be 2,344 cases. This is incredible,” she said.
According to her, the increase in the number of cases was as a result of awareness that the secretariat had embarked on since she assumed office as the mandate secretary of the SDSFCT.
With a greater consciousness and now a will to engage the channels of reporting the GBV cases, she said she has become an advocate against the menace.

 “I have become very much an activist for the say ‘No to GBV’ campaign and I have been very deliberate about it, going round and round.

“I was privileged to be at the first maiden edition of the female drivers’ conference with the civil defence and the commandant general,” Laniyi said.

She explained that the office she occupies is a full secretariat with 10 departments, 40 divisions and 15 units.