UN Women partners NASS, women affairs ministry in closing gender gap in Nigeria

By Philip Clement

United Nations Women in Nigeria is partnering with women in the National Assembly and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs to sought ways in closing the gender gab in leadership positions across the country.

At a Breakfast meeting of the 65th Session of the UN Commission on the State of Women (CSW65) held in Abuja on Tuesday, the women groups resolved to synergize in improving key areas as set by the United Nations aimed at improving the welfare of women in Nigeria.

The meeting brought together women leaders in the National and State Assemblies and other women leading in public spaces, to assess progress and strategize for improving progress in the following areas of the UNSG’s priority recommendations.

The key areas include to strengthen normative, legal, and regulatory frameworks, prevent and eliminate violence against women in public life and strengthen gender-responsive institutional reforms.

Others are increase the availability of high-quality financing in support of women’s participation in public life as well as strengthen women’s voice and leave no one behind in public life

Speaking on the theme which is centred on “Accelerating Progress in closing the Gender Gap of Women’s leadership in Nigeria”, the is the Representative of UN Women to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Comfort Lamptey said the theme for this year is timely especially at a time when all hands are on deck in the elimination of violence and empower all women and girls.

She advocated for more legislative backing in ensuring that women are well represented in leadership positions.

She said “There is a need for legislative reports by members to increase represention of work because we have a number of key legislation and constitutional review process that if achieved, will change the face of Nigeria’s political and social scene in the area of women representation.

“The Gender and opportunities bill, Electoral Act and constitution review serves as a baseline for the development of women.

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“We e are partnering with deputy chief whip and the Minister of Women Affairs to ensure that these legislations reflect the agitations of women in Nigeria.

“We had organized a workshop with women legislators who can support Nigerian women and we are delighted to host breakfast meeting to see how each of us in our different sector can support legislative process in promoting Nigerian Women,” she further stated.

In her remarks, the deputy chief whip of the house of representatives, Nkeiruka Onyejeocha commended the UN women for their consistent participation in women empowerment.

The deputy chief whip who also doubled as the representative of the speaker of the house of representatives, Demi Gbajabiamila said all hands must be on deck to improve the women leadership and achieve the 2030 agenda.

“The idea is to challenge women to do better and challenge them to be proactive in all sectors so that Nigeria can achieve the key SDGs 2030 agenda.

“We are committed in enshrinement of Women’s equality and the review process to amend legal process is very important to boost women’s opportunities and these efforts are quite critical.

“We are acknowledged the roles of CSOs to women’s development and the national assembly will continue to work with all stakeholders involved to achieve this target,” she said.

Also in a remarks, the minister of women affairs Dame Pauline Tallen reiterated the commitment of her minsitry in promoting gender equality and ending gender based violence.

In her words “We at the women affairs ministry have been collaborating both with CSOs, national and international bodies to ensure that the issue of gender based violence and gender equality becomes a reality.

“The Commission on the state of women serves a critical forum which we comemmend the UN Women and we look forward to a taking up recommendations of the discussions here,”.