IBy Ijeoma Olorunfemi

Convener of Finance Conference, Mr Seyi Abiodun, has called on the Federal Government to increase women’s access to education and loans.

Abiodun made the call on Friday, at the commemoration of the 2024 International Women’s Day (IWD) in Abuja.

The IWD 2024 dedicated to celebrate women around the globe is with the theme  “Inspire Inclusion – Invest in Her’’.

He said the conference was scheduled to inspire women to build wealth in spite of their level of income.

Abiodun said that lots of women were not courageous to take steps towards their financial freedom due to poor education.

“The government needs to concentrate on education, because culturally women have been disadvantaged, government should sponsor initiatives targeted at educating women.

“Some women still struggle with accessing loans and financial service providers need to educate people, especially women.

“Government can initiate that conversation and through it, partnerships can be built in the financial sector.

“It is not a bad thing for women to take loan, maybe to scale their businesses,’’ he said.

He explained that people could manage their finances by conscious savings.

He mentioned that three kinds of savings existed, which were consumption savings, emergency savings and investment savings.

“Consumption savings is a savings you are putting aside to spend, people need to enjoy their money because they work for it, but it has to be planned.

“Emergency savings is for unforeseen circumstances because we need to be ready in cases of emergency, while investment savings is what you put aside long term to build a richer life,’’ he said.

Mrs Ifeoluwa Adegoke, a Co-convener of the conference, said women have yet to achieve a lot towards their financial independence.

According to Adegoke, the conference will help building the confidence of women and enlighten them to be economically reliant.

She said “the government and private organisations need to inspire inclusion in women, because they are capable of holding managerial positions and leading.

“It is important that we build policies that will further empower women, because when women thrive, the nation will thrive.’’

Mrs Oluwatobi Ojediran, Chief Finance Officer, Transcorp Hotels Plc, said that some researches had revealed that empowering women was transformational to the society.

According to Ojediran, women should define what financial freedom means to them, embrace themselves and understand the dynamism that comes with being a woman.

“The competition is not with the man, it is with you (woman), device ways to become independent, gather the right learning, skills, relationships to enable you become financially independent.

“The best person to invest in a woman is the woman herself, because you need to understand what that investment means to you,’’ she said.

She called on the government to initiate policies that reduce inequality gaps, ensure consistent advocacy on women empowerment.

“Employers of labour, policy makers should understand the uniqueness that comes with a man and a woman, that should be understood while making decisions to bridge gender gap,’ she said.(NAN)www.nannews.ng

Edited by AbdulFatai Beki/Deji Abdulwahab

By Angela Atabo

The European Union (EU), says it has provided support for state Commissioners for Women Affairs and their Permanent Secretaries on the advancement of gender equality and rights in Nigeria.

Ms Laolu Olawumi, the EU’s Programme Manager on Democracy, Rule of Law and Gender, said this at a two-day conference tailored for state Commissioners of Women Affairs and their Permanent Secretaries in Abuja on Thursday.

Olawumi said that the event which was in partnership with the International Institute of Democracy and Electoral Assistance (IIDEA) aimed to provide them with the technical support needed to address issues affecting women, children, and other vulnerable groups nationwide.

She said that against the backdrop of International Women’s Day 2024, the conference marked a significant step toward achieving the 2024 theme, “Inspire Inclusion.”

“The conference structure is designed to furnish the Commissioners with the tools required to effectively confront and resolve rights issues.

“Moreover, the event serves as a knowledge-sharing forum beyond its primary role of offering technical assistance.

“The EU’s support includes ensuring that planning, budgeting, and implementation processes are inclusive.

“This strategy promotes the full participation of women, children, and persons with disabilities, integrating inclusivity into governance and societal development,” she said.

She added: “Under the leadership of the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, the conference fosters a meaningful exchange of insights and strategies among state Women’s Affairs Commissioners.

“This will , bolster their ability to advocate for gender equality within their jurisdictions.”

Olawumi said that the event was part of the second phase of the European Union’s Support to the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC II) programme implemented by IIDEA and based on the achievements of its preceding phase.

The EU Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Mr Samuela Isopi, stated that the second RoLAC phase was to sustain the momentum and continue the EU’s efforts in supporting the Nigerian governments objective of strengthening the rule of law in Nigeria.

“It was clear to the European Union that a second phase of the RoLAC was essential to consolidate the progress and continue the commendable work done on enhancing the rule of law in Nigeria,”she said.

Also speaking ,the Imo Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs Nkechinyere Ugwu,commended EU for the initiative.

“The conference is very important to us, as it gives us an opportunity to come together, share experiences, and develop practicable solutions for our work, which focuses on human rights and the protection of vulnerable populations.”

The Abia Commissioner of Women Affairs, Mrs Ngozi Felix, said that the conference was a cornerstone for the people in Abia to forge stronger collaborations and innovate on policies that would directly impact the lives of women and children.

“It is an invaluable platform for learning and exchanging ideas that can be transformed into actionable strategies for gender equality and the empowerment of the most vulnerable in our society.”(NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Ali Baba-Inuwa

By Justina Auta

Tabitha Cumi Foundation (TCF) has successfully engaged 2,100 girls and boys aged 15 to 25 from Lagos, Ebonyi, and Benue states in activities focused on preventing, responding to, and referring cases of Sexual and Gender-Based Violence (SGBV).

The announcement was made by Mrs Tayo Erinle, the Executive Director of the foundation, during the close-out event of the initial phase of the one-year Scale ENGAGE-Her Project held in Abuja on Monday.

Erinle highlighted that the project, operating under the Strengthening Civic Advocacy and Local Engagement (SCALE) Nigeria initiative and funded by USAID, was implemented in collaboration with Palladium and TCF.

She emphasised that the initiative aimed to educate and empower the beneficiaries on SGBV prevention, response, and referral strategies.

“We have worked with 2,100 beneficiaries, not only girls but also boys in Benue, Ebonyi, and Lagos states, educating them on how to prevent, respond, and refer GBV cases to appropriate authorities,” Erinle stated.

She expressed satisfaction with the programme’s achievements, noting that participants in the safe spaces gained confidence to speak out against GBV, actively engaged in educating others, and contributed to reporting GBV cases.

“In addition to building awareness, the girls and boys in this program have had their financial capacity enhanced,” Erinle added.

The project established 75 safe spaces for girls and boys, benefiting 15 communities and 15 schools across the states.

Erinle recommended the establishment of more safe spaces for survivors, emphasising the need for ongoing sensitisation and engagement with stakeholders to effectively combat SGBV.

Lydia Odeh, Chief of Party at Palladium, commented on their one-year support in providing services to survivors of GBV.

She highlighted the dissemination of results, learning, and challenges to mobilise support for future phases of the project.

Dr Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi, the Mandate Secretary of the Women Affairs Secretariat, FCTA, commended TCF for its impactful efforts in ending GBV and other harmful practices against women and girls.

She lauded the project’s exemplary leadership for creating opportunities and engagements that foster a more inclusive and equitable environment.

Awojodun Boluwatife, a beneficiary from Lagos, expressed gratitude for the valuable knowledge gained about GBV and pledged to share it with others. (NAN) www.nannews.ng

Edited by Isaac Aregbesola

By Aderogba George

The President of the Nigeria Society of Engineers (NSE), Mrs Margaret-Aina Oguntala, has commended the unwavering commitment of women in the engineering field in repositioning the sector.

The accolades were delivered during the investiture ceremony of Mrs Adebisi Osim as the 18th President of the Association of Professional Women Engineers of Nigeria (APWEN), a division of the NSE.

Oguntala emphasised that the event celebrated not only APWEN but also recognised the collective efforts of women tirelessly working towards a more inclusive and progressive engineering landscape in the country.

She commended their dedication and highlighted how their commitment had propelled the engineering profession to new heights.

Addressing the gathering, Dr Asabe-Vilita Bashir, the Director-General of the National Centre for Women Development, underscored the importance of promoting women in various professions.

She discussed the center’s initiative to introduce artisan skills, aiming to bridge the gender gap and empower women economically.

The immediate past President of APWEN, Mrs Elizabeth-Jumoke Eterigho, shared her achievements in expanding the association’s reach, increasing chapters, campuses, and membership.

She encouraged the newly inaugurated President, Mrs Adebisi Osim, to surpass her accomplishments in advancing the engineering profession.

In her inaugural address, Osim expressed gratitude for the opportunity and pledged her commitment to fostering inclusivity, impactful leadership, and innovation within the engineering profession.

The event marked a significant moment for the NSE, acknowledging the pivotal role women engineers play in shaping the engineering landscape of the country. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Yinusa Ishola/Idris Abdulrahman

By Justina Auta

The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has cautioned parents against giving out their children as domestic helpers or for adoption.

Kennedy-Ohanenye gave the warning on Tuesday, at a new year party to celebrate school children and to encourage them on the path to greatness in Abuja.

According to her, the warning is necessary to avoid cases of child molestation, domestic abuse and other forms of abuse.

The minister said that the adoption of children should be within the confines of the law and closely monitored to ensure they were not molested or abused.

She added that parents had the duty of protecting children from all forms of abuse and harmfulness practices by providing safe spaces for their growth and development.

“The adoption of children is no more the way it used to be, narratives are being changed, you can’t adopt a Nigerian child and whisk the child away to overseas and do what you like.

“I urge parents, don’t have children you can’t train, these are some of the reasons these children are suffering.

“It is unfair and very bad that you have children you cannot train and subject them to so many sufferings,” she said.

According to the minister, some parents give out their children to help others but they don’t look out to know if the child is okay or not.

“These children are loved by Nigerians and we don’t want them to be treated anyhow anymore.

“So, even the teachers should take note, ask the child questions and report back because the teachers are already aware that when you maltreat a child, it is a crime.

“We have mobile courts to report those that have molest or defile these children,” she said.

On the issue of house helps, the minister emphasised that they must be of age and should not be maltreated under any circumstance.

Also, Rep Kafilat Ogbara, House Committee Chair on Women Affairs, noted that children were the future of every nation, so their role in nation building must be understood.

“As children, students and Nigerians, you also have a role to play in nation building.

“Don’t see yourselves as just children who enjoy life, sleep, wake up, eat, play and go to school. You have to start building yourselves as leaders.

“I urge you to remain prayerful, obedient and serious with your studies. Know that there is no achievement you cannot reach in this life.

She urged children not to  let anyone restrict them  to believing that there is a ‘no go area’ for them.

Also speaking, Asmau Muhammed-Ignamus, Gombe state Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, stressed that the Child Rights Act would ensure their rights and dignity were protected.

According to her, Gombe state government has already adopted the Act to protect children in the state. (NAN)

Edited by Mark Longyen/Isaac Aregbesola