FG pledges to support women stakeholders
By Gloria Akudoro, Abuja
The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs on Monday has said it would continue to support stakeholders on women affairs to better the lives of women in the country.
The Ministry’s permanent secretary, Engr. Oludunso Olusesan Adebiyi, disclosed this while giving his welcome address at the 21st Regular National Council Meeting on Women Affairs in Uyo, Akwa Ibom.
The opening of the event housed dignitaries from various Ministries, Permanent Secretaries, Commissioner, Directors; Engr. Oludunso Olusesan Adebiyi, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs; Prince Adetokunbo Adebanjo, Director Federal Ministry of Women; Dr Ini Adiakpan, Akwa Ibom Commissioner for Women Affairs; Mrs Margaret Edem, Permanent Secretary, Akwa Ibom Ministry of Women Affairs; Director of Gender Affairs, Mrs Friya Bulus; Director of Economic Service, Mr Idris Mohammad; Director of Child Development, Mrs Jummai Mohammed; Ogun State Director of Planning Research and Statistics, Mr Akinola Kayode, Mrs Kaltum Dauda-Rufai, Niger State Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development; and her Nasarawa State counterpart, Mrs Hauwa Aliyu-Oga.
Adebiyi stressed that the attention and participants involvement was required to achieve the intended purpose of the gathering and to arrive at vigorous resolutions for the benefit of all Nigerians.
He said the technical session of the National Council on Women Affairs was strategically designed as a formative ground to critically examine various policy initiatives and programmes submitted for council consideration.
Adebiyi charged participants to be responsible and to ensure that only relevant policies and programmes that would enhance sustainable economic development were brought on.
He said that a total number of 185 memoranda were received by the ministry for consideration, among which are 21 information memoranda and 164 action memoranda from 36 states and FCT Abuja.
Adebiyi said that other memoranda for consideration came from the adeministry and other ministries such as science and technology, environment, agriculture, industry, humanitarian respectively.
He added that the women ministry also received memoranda from National Centre for Women Development, (NAPTIP) and Nigerian Correctional Service.
“Through our interactions, discussions and generation of necessary information on these memoranda and other tropical national issues at this session, we will guide the council to initiate and implement far reaching policies.
“This is to ensure institutional strengthening towards effective and efficient implementation of our mandate, this ministry count on your continuous collaboration.
“This council meeting will also delibrates on matters affecting children and other vulnerable groups for informed decision making. This meeting is also a veritable avenue for experts to address other emerging issues,” Adebiyi said.
