By Sarah NEGEDU
As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to mark the 2024 International Women’s Day, governments across all tiers, have been asked to invest more in women empowerment so as to combat poverty and accelerate national development.
The Catholic Agency for Overseas Development, CAFOD, and the Centre for Women Studies and Intervention, CWSI, in a joint press conference in Abuja, expressed concern about the economic challenges faced by Nigerians, particularly women.
Speaking on behalf of both organisations, the Programme Development and Funding Officer, CAFOD, Mmachukwu Oyeka-Chinweoke, observed that Nigerian women make up roughly half the general population, yet they account for 70percent of the 90 million Nigerians living in extreme poverty.
Oyeka-Chinweoke, emphasized the need for equal gender opportunities, stating that, “This disparity highlights the importance of this year’s theme for International Women’s Day, “Count Her In: Accelerating Gender Equality Through Economic Empowerment,” with the sub-theme “Invest in Women, Accelerate Progress.”
CAFOD and CWSI observe that despite improvements to the legal and policy framework on gender equality in Nigeria over the past decade, the country continues to fall short of achieving true gender equality.
The organisations jointly called on the Nigerian government at all levels to demonstrate their commitment to empowering Nigerian women.
“In 2023, the immediate past administration launched the National Women’s Economic Empowerment Policy and Action Plan. Recognizing that women’s economic empowerment is a matter of social justice and a key driver of economic growth and development, this plan laid the framework for empowering women to participate fully in the economy as entrepreneurs, employees, and consumers.
“CAFOD and CWSI call on the Government to throw its weight behind the implementation of this plan in the interest of not only Nigerian women, but also in the interest of national development.”
Both civil society organisations expressed their commitment to support government to ensure that meaningful investment in women is accelerated and achieved across Nigeria.
Goodwill messages were delivered from organisations and government agencies in attendance including the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, while a keynote address, a panel discussion as well as awards were presentation to some notable women for their contributions to the empowerment of women and the Girl-Child.
