The Federal Government has initiated a restructuring process for the Nigeria for Women Project, a strategic long-term engagement between the World Bank and the Government of Nigeria to support the government’s goal of ensuring gender equality
Speaking during the meeting, the Honorable Minister of Women Affairs, Barr Uju Kennedy Ohanenye stated that the thrust of the session was to review on-going strategies and restructure it to effectively make the desired impact on rural women who are the actual beneficiaries of the World Bank intervention funding program.
Continuing, the Minister explained that the government’s intention is “to bolster the existing program, which has successfully empowered women at the grassroots level, designed to elevate women’s productivity and extend the project’s benefits to a larger demographic group”.
In her words “ Our women deserves the best and our present drive is not only to scale up the funding action plan but to strongly align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda and overarching objective targeted at improving on the welfare of women and the vulnerable especially the rural dwellers”
Similarly, Barr Uju added that the restructuring process is an all-encompassing initiative that has passed through stages of engagement within the public and private sector including the World Bank and other development partners.
In his presentation, the representative of the World Bank Nigeria, Mr Taimur Samad said the organization would continue to assist Nigeria to uplift the livelihood of women and in other areas, observing that with the expanded scope, there will be further levels of engagement and consultation to achieve set goals.
Also speaking, the representative of the Federal Ministry of Finance and Deputy Director International Economic Relations Department Mr. Ohaeri Stephen commended the Women Affairs Ministry for its sustained efforts to develop initiatives towards enhancing the welfare of women and the girl child in the society and reiterated the continuous support of the Finance Ministry.
The UNICEF Deputy Country Representative in Nigeria, Dr. Rownak Khan expressed optimism that the collaboration would foster economic empowerment for women.
Furthermore, the Director-General of the Small and Medium Enterprises Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN), Mr. Charles Odii reassured that his agency will remain steadfast in its efforts to pursue common goals with the Women Affairs Ministry to reposition the socio-economic status of Nigerian women.
The proposed restructure of the Nigeria for Women Project were integrated into existing World Bank action plans which includes; more emphasis on sustainable empowerment, influencing social norms, upgrading the scope of women affinity groups (cooperatives), training and capacity building on micro investment plans, creating platforms for behavioral change in health, sanitation and climate and community investment funding.
Ohaeri Osondu Joseph, Fnipr, Fcai
Special Assistant, Media
