NIGERIA: Advocating for Women And Other Vulnerable Groups

Source:All Africa
Vulnerable groups in the country comprising women, children and persons with disabilities, constitute about 70% of the entire population, and being an integral part of the society, their issues and concerns needs to be integrated into national development.

The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development is the national machinery charged with the mandate of promoting and protecting the general well-being and rights of these vulnerable groups and the ministry also partners with state governments in order to reach the grassroots.

According to the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina, "issues concerning these critical segments of the society are listed on the concurrent list of the Nigerian Constitution. This is to say that, issues pertaining to women, children and other vulnerable groups are handled by both the federal and state governments. This underscores the vital role that state governments play in the actualization of my Ministry's mandate."

Following her recent appointment as minister, she kick-started her advocacy visit to states from Adamawa State to solicit partnership between the Ministry and the state in the provision of better services and enabling environment for the survival, proper development, protection and participation of women, children and other vulnerable groups in the state.

She met with Governor Murtala Nyako, the governor's wife, Zainab Murtala Nyako, who runs an NGO, Women Education and Empowerment Initiatives (WEEIN), the House of Assembly, orphanages, girls' schools, the Lamido of Adamawa, Dr. Muhammed Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa, hospitals and women focused NGOs.

During her visit to Governor Nyako in Yola , she enumerated the priority areas that require urgent attention in the state as;

Women economic empowerment, women's increased participation in politics and decision-making, improved maternal and Child health, girl-child education and women non-formal education, orphans and vulnerable children, rehabilitation of street children and passage of Child Rights Act.

Others are: implementation of the National Gender Policy and its strategic framework and plan, implementation and passage of the UN Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) provisions, increased budgetary allocation for Adamawa State Ministry of Women Affairs on issues relating to women, children and the socially disadvantaged.

She said," we will greatly limit our chances of achieving desirable growth and development and indeed the MDGs by 2015 if we do not make conscious and sustained efforts to tackle gender question and problems besetting the vulnerable members of our society. Tackling these problems will ensure a sustainable human development, material prosperity, peace and social progress for all."

The minister called for economic empowerment of women to address the problem of poverty facing them. She said several inter-related socio-economic factors have led to the poor economic status of a large segment of Nigerian women, such that 70% of people living below the poverty line are women.

She said the ministry has completed the construction of a skills acquisition centre in Michika, to assist women in the area develop their skills, be gainfully employed and generate income to support the living standard of their family members, saying it will be equipped and commissioned before the end of the year.

On women political empowerment, she urged the governor to put in place at least 35% women's representation in appointive posts in Adamawa State, in conformity with what now obtains at the National Level adding, "with the recent composition of the Federal Executive Council by Mr. President, we are proud to say that we have 13 female Ministers in the present Cabinet. This represents about 33% of the Council members, the highest in the history of this country. For this, Nigerian women remain grateful to Mr. President and expect all State Governors to follow suit, to demonstrate Nigeria's commitment to Affirmative Action."

The minister also urged the governor to support the cause of the passage of the Child Rights Act saying Adamawa State is one of the 13 states in the Federation that are yet to pass the Bill for the domestication of the Child Rights' Act in Nigeria. " I believe the passage of the bill will be of immense benefit to the State because; its provisions have been adapted to suit our circumstances, towards ensuring the survival, well being and development of our children".

She said the inclusion of these provisions prohibiting early marriage in the Act was informed by the high linkage between early marriage/teenage pregnancy and high incidence of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) and Recto Vaginal Fistula (RVF) among other things. "We all know the anguish and stigma these victims go through and collectively, we must help not only to alleviate their sufferings but also tackle the root causes," she said

She said another reason why the Child Rights' Act prohibits early marriage is because such marriage disrupts the education of the girl- child. "We are all aware that Islam attaches great importance to the education of women and recognises its multiplier effects. It is therefore necessary to do all we can to facilitate and promote the education of all, and particularly that of the Girl Child who is the woman of tomorrow and a strong pillar in the family."

She implored the governor to put in place, appropriate policies, initiatives, and machineries that would promote quality service delivery to orphans and vulnerable children and Almajirai children in Adamawa State.

Governor Nyako assured the Minister of the state's commitment and support for issues relating to women and other vulnerable groups. He advised women to be proactive in getting their rights and not live on the charity of men. He also advised women to raise funds and support the campaigns of those who indicate interest in political office.

The minister urged the various stakeholders visited to consider appropriate action that will strengthen the health care systems, access to ante-natal, neo and post-natal care, in addition to giving a completely free medical care to pregnant women and children to reduce the high maternal and child deaths in the state.

During her visit to the Adamawa State House of Assembly, the Speaker, Barrister Sadiq Ibrahim called for a holistic review of the Child Rights Act.

He said members of the Adamawa State House of Assembly have agreed that while the Act contains very good parts such as the issue of Almajirai and protection of the girl child against female genital mutilation, it stills has some grey areas contravening religious beliefs such as that making it criminal for a father to marry a girl child less than 18.

Earlier, Hajiya Zainab Maina said the House is at liberty to study the Act and adapt it to suit the peculiarities and circumstances of the state as it is expected that the document will be reviewed and modified in line with the wishes and aspirations of the people it is meant to serve .

At her meeting with NGOs, she harped on the need for the ministry and the NGOs to collectively work towards Goal 3 of the MDG which is to promote gender equality and empowerment of women.

The minister lamented that Adamawa State is one of the states in the county bedevilled with the problem of female genital mutilation which in most cases increases the growing number of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) among women urging the governor's wife to use her NGO to fight the menace.

The Lamido Adamawa on his part, Dr. Muhammed Barkindo Aliyu Musdafa assured of the support of the traditional institution in the state for the upliftment of women and other vulnerable groups.

Nigeria

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NIGERIA: Advocating for Women And Other Vulnerable Groups