In a strong call to action at the 79th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA:2024), Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has advocated for an urgent change in global action plan to ensure gender equality and women’s empowerment in line with contemporary realities
This pivotal moment marks a significant step forward in Nigeria’s commitment to advancing women’s rights and promoting a more inclusive global community even as the Minister highlighted that the feminine gender possesses unique capabilities that if properly harnessed, would contribute to the socio-economic development of many nations.
Barrister Kennedy-Ohanenye, speaking at a side line event, Tuesday in New York, USA, observed that without a change in the action plan to reflect current realities affecting women, especially across the African Continent, there can be no meaningful impact in their lives.
*We need to start achieving something. How can we do this? By changing the action plan so that the former narrative used in improving the lives of women globally in the past can now reflect the current realities with a focus on who we are and what we can benefit from, particularly in areas like empowerment and skill acquisition for women to boost their economic status and relevance in the society*, she said
The Minister, while acknowledging the support of the international community in improving the lives of the feminine gender, especially through advocacies and deployment of other mechanisms, observed however, that for the average hardworking and resilient Nigerian woman, for example, what is needed now is a boost that can come in form of empowerment through funds to upscale small scale ventures, and in the provision of equipment for skill acquisition, among others.
Kennedy-Ohanenye who restated Nigeria’s commitment to the promotion of gender equality and women empowerment, expressed optimism that by championing this change in global action plan, the country will have inspired collective action and collaboration among nations, thus ensuring tangible progress in the gender’s affairs.
Key Areas of Focus in the change of narratives, she advocated, includes promoting equal opportunities and rights for women and girls, enhancing women’s participation in politics, economy, and society as well as fostering a culture of inclusivity and representation.