UN women promotes greater inclusivity
UN Women has urged both private and public sector stakeholders to enhance inclusivity by ensuring women gain access to financial resources. Ms. Beatrice Eyong, the UN Women and ECOWAS Country Representative, highlighted that in Nigeria, only 10 percent of women have access to financial resources crucial for entrepreneurial development and public procurement.
Eyong made this statement during the UN Women and Partners Open Day for the South West region, which took place in Lagos on Thursday. She emphasized that achieving gender equality is essential for meeting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), noting that the country is currently 40 percent behind in this regard.
She further explained that accelerating gender equality is pivotal to advancing the SDGs, underscoring the necessity of collaborative efforts. “We acknowledge that this task cannot be accomplished from Abuja alone; we must engage with all six geopolitical zones. This is our third visit, following South South and North West,” Eyong said.
The Open Day aimed to highlight UN Women’s initiatives and stress the importance of providing women with the information needed to make empowering decisions. Eyong noted that UN Women’s programs have offered new opportunities to thousands of women who missed out on education due to early marriage, childbirth, and other factors. These initiatives help women learn trades and gain financial independence, enabling them to make informed decisions.
Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, represented by his Deputy Chief of Staff Mr. Sam Egube, affirmed the state government’s commitment to giving women a voice and continuing to support their advancement. “In Lagos, we prioritize women, supported by men. Progress for women is impeded if opposed by either men or other women. Success cannot be achieved in isolation, so we must also recognize male allies who support gender equality,” he noted.
Similarly, Lagos State Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Mrs. Cecelia Bolaji-Dada, emphasized the need for women’s voices to be included in all decision-making processes affecting them. She assured that her government is committed to providing space for women and acknowledged that other states could also improve representation in leadership roles.
The event was attended by commissioners from Oyo State, Ogun State, Ondo State, Ekiti State, and Lagos State.
