Commissioners back GEWE with UN Women’s tracking tools
By Justina Auta
State Commissioners of Women Affairs and Social Development have pledged to enhance implementation of the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) agenda, using new data and tracking tools provided by UN Women.
The commitment was made on the sidelines of a two-day GEWE Coordination Mechanism and Institutional Strengthening meeting, on Thursday in Abuja.
Mrs Edema Irom, Acting Dean of Commissioners and Cross River State Commissioner of Women Affairs, stressed the need to strengthen implementation mechanisms, especially at the grassroots level.
She assured that the commissioners would utilise the tools provided by UN Women to monitor progress, identify gaps, and inform policy decisions.
Irom emphasised the link between economic empowerment and the reduction of gender-based violence (GBV), calling for increased advocacy with governors, senators, and other decision-makers to prioritise women’s participation in economic and political processes.
According to Irom, commissioners have continued engaging stakeholders, including gender advocates, civil society, policymakers, and the wife of the President, to push for broader implementation of the GEWE agenda and boost women’s political representation.
“The message is simple, you can’t build a nation without women. We are more than half of the population. Empower women, and you empower the nation,” she said.
Also speaking, Mrs Neido Geoffrey-Kofulto, Adamawa State Commissioner for Women Affairs, noted that while some states were making progress, others needed to accelerate the implementation of GEWE initiatives.
She encouraged her counterparts to take greater steps in their respective states to ensure transformative impact.
Meanwhile, Mrs Patience Ekeoba, Deputy Country Representative of UN Women, urged the commissioners to close implementation gaps in the Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment (GEWE) agenda.
She emphasised the importance of addressing systemic challenges that hindered progress.
Ekeoba also called for the alignment of national and global commitments, the strengthening of institutional frameworks, and the harmonisation of policies.
According to her, these steps are essential for improving coordination and ensuring greater accountability in the implementation of GEWE programmes.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the meeting was attended by representatives from UN Women, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, zonal gender coordinators, civil society organisations, development partners, and the media.(NAN)
Edited by Abiemwense Moru
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