The Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen has expressed disappointment at Tuesday’s voting at the National Assembly where the strive by Nigerian women to increase their representation at the National and States’ legislatures, suffers a setback.
Dame Tallen urged Nigerian women not to be deterred, “We just need to go back and re-strategize; demonstrate more love for ourselves and show support for one another with our numerical strength. Women and youths are the greatest voters; we need to use this to our advantage”, she said.
The Women affairs minister who was briefing the media in the wake of the 2022 International Women Day (IWD) with the theme: ‘Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow’ at the Conference Room of her Ministry in Abuja, Tuesday, 1st of March, 2002 urged women to “remain resilient” stating that “the struggle is not over” as she said that “Any country which neglects its women is crippled and walking on one leg.”
While acknowledging the encouraging roles of the First lady, Dr. Aisha Buhari and the Wife of the Vice President, Mrs. Dolapo Oshinbajo, Dame Tallen disclosed that the struggle of Nigerian women will take a newer dimension in the formation of “Nigerian Reconnect for New Nigerian Initiative.” This, the Minister stated will serve as a pressure group for women inclusiveness and representation. A major highlight of the 2022 IWD Media briefing was the launching of the ‘National Communication Strategy’ to ending all forms of Gender-Based Violence and Harmful Practices Against Women and Girls in Nigeria as well as the ‘Directory of GBV Service Providers’ produced by her Ministry for all States of the Nigerian Federation.
The Minister of Women Affairs further appraised the theme of the 2022 IWD as highlights the contributions of women and girls around the world, who are leading the charge on climate change adaptation, mitigation, and response, to build a sustainable future for all.
She said “This aligns aptly with the priority theme for the upcoming 66th Session Commission on the Status of Women: ‘Achieving Gender Equality and the Empowerment of all Women and Girls in the context of Climate Change, Environmental and Disaster Risk Reduction Policies and Programmes’.
Dame Tallen urged all activists to join hands in transforming the lives of rural and urban women and girls in line with the Climate Change Conference (COP-26) Agreement as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other International and Regional Frameworks. She disclosed that her Ministry has been taking the Presidential Gas Initiative targeted at reducing the green-house emission effect in the society to stem the effects of firewood for cooking, to more Nigerian rural women.
The Minister disclosed that the programme is meant to sensitize women on the health and environmental problems associated with the use of firewood. “Mr. President directed that, each Local Government Area of Nigeria 774 LGAs should receive 1,000 cooking gas cylinders each.”
Dame Tallen also disclosed plans by her Ministry, working with State Governors and the Federal Ministry of Environment, in line with Mr. President’s 2019 pledge at the United Nations General Assembly to plant 25million trees in 1 year.
“This involves planting economic trees at the site designated by the State to stimulate green environment and stem the effect of deforestation and climate change in our communities and we are going to demonstrate this on Friday 4th March, 2022 at Government Secondary School (GSS) in Area 10, Garki, Abuja at 9.00 am.
The women affairs minister also rolled out other events to commemorate the 2022 IWD in Nigeria to include:
Sunday Service – Sunday, 6th March, 2022 in churches;
National Women’s Dialogue on Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection including Arts Exhibition on Women and Climate Change and Leadership – 8th March, 2022 at the National Centre for Women Development by 9.00am; and
Media Appearances at various media houses to create awareness and sensitization on the IWD and CSW.
In her struggle to enhance recognition for the role women can play, Dame Tallen expressed gratitude for the support of her predecessors and women organizations across Nigeria: “Hajiya Zainab Maina and Hajiya Inna Maryam Ciroma, Josephine Anenih, Aisha Abubakar. Women top Government functionaries, and those from the private sector, as well as from the Civil Society to include NCWS, 100 Women Lobby Group, Nigerian Women Trust Fund, WARDC, Women in Politics Forum, CWO, WACOL, NAWOJ, PLAC, Women’s Situation Room, AWITA, FOMWAN, NACCIMA, League of Women Voters, amongst so many others too numerous to mention.”
While calling on all UN Agencies and support partners in women’s struggle to “step it up”, the minister also placed on record the unwavering support from UNDP, UN Women, UNFPA, UNICEF, UNAIDS, UNODC, NDI, ActionAid, Save the Children, Mercy Corps, etc. “The Media”, she said “has been one of our greatest allies in this crusade to enable a Nigeria fit for all.”
