Disturbed by the dwindling economic fortune of women, particularly in the South-West geopolitical zone, the Development Research and Project Centre (dRPC), at the weekend, held a one-day high-level meeting between women associations and top government officials to explore ways of steaming the tide and charting a way forward.
The initiative, sponsored by the Melinda and Gate Foundation was held on Thursday, 7th of July 2022 at Premier Hotel, Ibadan, is dRPC’s two-year flagship project on Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) in Nigeria, titled: “Partnership for Advancing Women in Economic Development (PAWED) and aim at engaging leading civil society organisations (CSOs) and strengthen their capacity to move forward to conduct advocacy to national government MDAs.
Speaking at the event, the Ondo State Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr (Mrs) Bunmi Oshadahun said one of the ways to identify a developed country is the level of investment in women’s economic empowerment which can foster development and growth.
She said that in the development of Nigeria, women should be the target, as women play a major role in their homes and the society at large, which makes the development of women imperative.
Speaking further, she commended governments of the South-West geo-political zone on the economic empowerment of women with the accommodation of more women in politics unlike what was obtained in the past. She however stressed that although the governments are doing their best, they still need to do more by timely release of budgeted funds and disaggregation of empowerment programmes to reflect spending on women, youth agriculture, etc separately.
She urged women to collaborate, actively participate in politics and take advantage of many other palliative women economic empowerment programmes because as she puts it “it is not over until it is over”.
Barrister Titilayo Asabia, from the DAWN Commission who spoke on the “Role of CSO in Promoting Women Economic Development”, commended CSO advocacy, noting that they are designed to advocate and create awareness about women, as many women in informal sectors, such as marketplaces need to be aware of their position in the society.
She mentioned that the only organisation most suited for the awareness is the CSO, as they are fearless in their advocacy and enlightenment. She also urged them to do more and make women aware of their capability of doing so many things.
Other notable guests at the event include Mr Frederick Oladiran, Permanent Secretary Ondo State Ministry of Women Affairs; Mrs Abiola Njoku, Coordinator, Association of Women in Trade and Agriculture, Oyo State chapter; Mrs Funke Shyllon, Director of Women Affairs, Lagos State; Mrs Fumilayo Adeojo, National Vice Chairperson, NAWORG, among others.