By Mercy Aikoye
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has disclosed that she refused to attend meetings on women’s issues outside the country because most times they don’t bring any meaningful development to Nigerian women.
She stated this while speaking at the Women Stakeholders Conference 2023 with the theme: ‘Women Empowerment And Sustainable Policy Document’.
The conference was organized by the House of Representative Committee on Women’s Affairs and Social Development.
The minister said lack of commitment in dealing with genuine issues is becoming problematic as things of less importance are given more attention.
She said, “$10 million could be spent on just meetings, advocacy, and traveling, and we are seeing it instead of focusing on the real issues”
“They tell you that the intention is to get money but no money is gotten but you will spend money to go there. I told them I was not coming. What is it that I am coming there to do?”
Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Rep. Kafilat Ogbara, said the focus of this year’s conference is on women’s empowerment and sustainable policy documents.
Earlier, Speaker House of Representative Abbas Tajudeen assured Nigerian women of the commitment of the House to passing the Gender Equal Opportunity Bill.
