We’ll Intensify Advocacy to Domesticate Laws, Treaties in Achieving Our Mandate, Says Women Affairs Minister

Minister of Women Affairs, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim’, has stated that her Ministry would intensify advocacy to facilitate domestication of laws, treaties and conventions to enhance holistic implementation of the sector’s mandate.

Addressing delegates during the National Council on Women Affairs summit made up of the 36 state commissioners and the FCT in Jos, Plateau State, alongside development partners on Thursday, she noted that through advocacy and intense lobbying, 35 States have domesticated the Child Rights Acts, while the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (2015) has been domesticated in 29 States.

“We are also very active in the advocacy to pass the Gender and Equal Opportunities (GEOB) Bill that was laid before the 9th Assembly and I am using this opportunity to plead with our distinguished Senators in the 10th Senate to pass the bill in the overall best interest of Nigerian women and the populace in general.”

The Minister identified prioritizing Girl-Child Education as the pillar upon which to address the challenges confronting the society by stepping up advocacy with the legislature and the State Governments.

This, she stated led to the launch of the Campaign to Support Girl-Child Education in Nigeria.

“The goal is to adopt one strategy to achieve the provision of basic sanitary and hygiene facilities within schools and in communities where girls reside. To this end, we achieved a milestone through the Pad Distribution campaign which was launched in commemoration of the World Health and Hygiene Day in May 2020 with support from Water Supply & Sanitation Collaborative Council (WSSCC), Procter & Gamble, WaterAid, USAID, Soroptimist International and other partners Launched the Emergency Sanitary Pad Bank project which consists of basic sanitary pads, panties, soaps and sanitizers that can support a girlchild to stay in school, even during her menstrual period.”

She also spoke to the collaboration on various projects, such as the World Bank supported Adolescent Girls Initiative for Learning and Empowerment (AGILE), whose goal is to improve secondary education opportunities among girls in in 7 States: Kano, Kebbi, Kaduna, Katsina, Borno, Plateau and Ekiti.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim said that the project is expected to benefit about 6.7 million adolescents and 15.5 million direct project beneficiaries will include families and communities in participating states.

Sulaiman-Ibrahim also encouraged the women to continue to stand strong, and draw strength from the shared goal of advancing the Renewed Hope Agenda, adding that as a nation, we must move beyond ethnic and regional divides to build a Nigeria that prioritizes equity, opportunity, and prosperity for every citizen.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda (left), Director General, Maryam Abacha Women Development Centre, Dr Asabe Vilita Bashir (middle) and Minister of Women Affairs, Hon Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim during the 24th Regular National Council on Women Affairs in Jos on Thursday, Plateau State.

On his part, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Ambassador Gabriel Aduda stated that all the Memoranda
submitted by the Federal and States Ministries as well as other Ministries, Departments and Agencies, whose mandate impact the sector were considered. He thanked and appreciated staff who have been working tirelessly to produce the memoranda that would form an action plan going forward.

The event climaxed with commendation awards given to the Governor of Plateau State, His Excellency, Barrister Caleb Mutfwang as a ‘He For She Governor’ who is advancing the interest of women in the state, and other commissioners and stakeholders supporting the ministry.