From Shuaibu Zubair Tatu, Birnin Kebbi
The Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, yesterday said women has contributed to economic growth and agricultural development of Nigeria.
Addressing a section of the 43,894 beneficiaries of Nigeria for Women Project at the flag-off of the sub-national women’s economic empowerment road show in Birnin Kebbi, the minister said women’s contributions to economic development started from homes, where families are groomed to go into the larger society
” The immense contribution of women to economic growth and agricultural production in the country, urging men to offer the necessary support to their wives to become active participants in business, trade, governance and politics,” she said.
She stated that in contemporary Nigeria, the majority of women were engaged in one productive activity or another, including their involvement in entrepreneurship activities, such as farming, agricultural food chain, craft, and white-collar jobs, and are making exploits in their different capacities.
The minister assured the women that they heard their perspectives and it would be reflected in the National Policy on Women’s Economic Empowerment. She added that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the formation of a high-level Advisory Council on Empowerment of Women and Girls in Nigeria.
She said ” the importance of joint effort among local, state and federal governments, traditional rulers, religious leaders, captains of industries, gender advocates, and other stakeholders to attain the goal five of the united nations on gender equality in the society.
Tallen expressed appreciation to the Emir of Gwandu, His royal highness, Alhaji Muhammadu Iliyasu Bashar, whom she visited for extolling the power of women as essential component in national development.
She commended Governor Abubakar Atiku Bagudu for keeping to his promise to domesticate the Child Rights Act 2003 and the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act (2015), and his wife, Dr Zainab, for tirelessly supporting the ministry’s mandate through her MedicAid project.
In his response, the secretary to the state government, Babale Umar Yauri, who represented Governor Bagudu, said there were over 43,894 beneficiaries of Nigeria for Women Programme in Kebbi State, adding that the government has spent N2.7billion for the empowerment of women.
