By Mercy Aikoye
The Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Abbas Tajudeen, has emphasized the significant contributions of women to Nigeria’s socio-economic growth. Speaking at the Women’s Policy Lab ceremony, commemorating International Women’s Day, he described women as a driving force in the country’s development.
The Women’s Policy Lab, organized by the House of Representatives and the Gender Mobile Initiative, aimed to develop solutions to socio-economic and political issues affecting women. The event brought together female applicants, mentors, and gender-based NGOs to formulate ideas and strategies to address these challenges.
Speaker Abbas acknowledged the progress made by women in various industries, including agriculture, technology, healthcare, and academia. However, he noted that women still face specific challenges, such as unequal access to education, financial resources, and political representation.
The Speaker expressed his commitment to addressing these challenges through economic empowerment initiatives, targeted legislation, and advocacy campaigns. He emphasized the need for inclusive governance, recognizing that when women prosper, the entire nation prospers.
The ceremony honored 50 exceptional young women who developed pragmatic solutions to address obstacles to women’s rights, economic empowerment, and political inclusion. The Speaker presented awards and cash prizes to the winners, with the top three clusters receiving N2 million each.
The House of Representatives is prioritizing bills designed to enhance women’s representation, including proposals for special seats in legislative bodies and quotas within political parties. Speaker Abbas urged state Houses of Assembly to endorse these bills and proposals.
The Speaker concluded by reiterating the House’s commitment to protecting women from violence and intimidation while ensuring equal access to political and economic opportunities. He emphasized the need for collective action to uphold equity in all spheres and champion the rights and aspirations of women across Nigeria.
