The Federal Government through the Ministry of Women Affairs has concluded plans to partner with the National Council of Traditional Rulers in its sustained efforts to improve the wellbeing of Nigeria women and the vulnerable especially at the community levels. Making this declaration during a courtesy visit by a delegation from the Council, the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Barr. Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, observed that “the traditional institutions are rallying points for the local communities and we will leverage on the structures provided by the traditional rulers to effectively reach out to the rural communities in Nigeria”
Still speaking, the Minister reiterated the need to give Nigerians a new lease of life through sustainable empowerment of women and other less privileged Nigerians through transparent and verifiable platforms that can improve their standard of living “ part of the plan is to effectively utilize the E-portals which was unveiled last week to provide a one-stop-shop as convergence point for buyers, sellers, farmers, manufacturers, NGOs and other relevant players to rebuild the trust of Nigerians on economic independence, the portal will provide platform for seamless business ventures for the women who will operate as Cooperatives, they will be paid online for their products and this will ensure that they get their monies direct”.
She also harped on the Transparency and Integrity Brigade which will be inaugurated to monitor and ensure that funds meant for Nigerians get to the supposed beneficiaries “As we step up plans to empower our women and other Nigerians, many items such as industrial sewing machines, grinding machines, garri processing and frying machines, weaving and button hole machines, tapping machines, steaming pressure machines, fish smoking machines and rice milling machines have been distributed to Anambra, Kano, Rivers, Imo, Lagos, Oyo, Katsina, Gombe, kebbi, Adamawa, Ebonyi, Niger, Bayelsa, Benue and Jigawa states and we will integrate other states during the next phase of distribution to reach out to many communities but there will be an integrity brigade to act as watch dogs and ensure that there is transparency and accountability, this group will report all forms of anomalies and the government will follow up accordingly. The Brigade will also be on the lookout to ensure judicious utilization of donor funds meant for Nigerians”
Earlier in his presentation, the Director Administration and Finance, National Council of Traditional Rulers who led the delegation, Alh Kassim Yawa commended the Minister for the bold strides she has taken since assumption of office to restore the hopes of women and other vulnerable Nigerians. He also conveyed the delight of “the Council over the Minister’s achievements which includes the national dialogue organized last week to end early child marriage in the country and recalled that traditional rulers remain a veritable link to effectively engage the local communities including challenges of insecurity because village and district heads know everybody in their various communities” He therefore assured the Minister that the Council of Traditional Rulers is poised to work with the Federal Government through the Women Affairs Ministry to realize the renewed hope initiatives in the interest of all Nigerians.