Source: Daily Independent
The Executive Director of UN Women, Ms Phumzile Mlambo-Ngcuka, on Monday charged Nigeria to emplace policies that would promote gender equality and women empowerment.

Mlambo-Ngcuka made this call during a courtesy visit to the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in Abuja.

"For countries to attain highest level of development, they must focus on creating policies and programmes that support gender equality and women empowerment."

She said the UN system was ready to collaborate with Nigeria in all its policies to improve the lives of all Nigerians.

As a UN agency on women and children, we join the world to call for the release of the abducted Chibok schoolgirls."

According to her, kidnapping and terrorism are unethical, adding that efforts must be geared towards condemning such in strong terms.

The Minister, Hajiya Zainab Maina, said the visit showed that the UN was committed to advancing human rights.

She said the ministry, in partnership with coalition of women organisations, was working to improve the capacity of Nigerian women.

"Promoting gender equity, equality and women empowerment is a work in progress.

"We shall continue to amplify the issues until our daughters and sons can stand side by side on the same pedestal in Nigeria as equal partners."

According to her, there can be no true democracy until there is appreciable number of women in all spheres of life, including in top decision making positions in Nigeria.

She said women were desirous to reach their full potential, and that this cannot be realised without a strong commitment to financing gender equality and constitutional reforms.

• Nigeria