By Lizzy Carr, Bauchi
The special adviser to Bauchi state governor, Prof Sani Malami says the social, political and economic empowerment of women is a developmental imperative, which until women and girls are liberated from poverty and injustice, the goals of peace, security and sustainable development stands in jeopardy.
Malami was speaking on the topic “Empowerment of women and girls in marginalised communities” at the presentation of end-line report and closing event for the Japan-UNESCO project on empowerment of women and girls in marginalised communities for better well-being through education and advocacy in the state.
According to him, promoting women and girls empowerment is vital for creating a prosperous, safe and peaceful world.
“If women have better access to health services, to education and to economic growth, economies will flourish and the society will become more peaceful.”
Malami noted that where women and girls are treated as inferior to men, a vicious circle of limited education, poor employment opportunities, ill-health forced marriages and all too frequently violence and exploitation becomes entrenched.
“The socio political environment in Nigeria have limited policies, legal frameworks and social justice systems to prevent sexual and gender- based violence,” adding that women have to contend with high level of poverty and some degree of violence while facing multiple intersecting and systemic barriers to economic and social progress.
“The prospect of chance will occur when men use new knowledge and skills to support women’s rights, shift attitudes and behaviours and foster more equitable opportunities for women”.
He commended the Japan-UNESCO project for empowering women and girls in the stats with basic literacy knowledge.
The program specialist, UNESCO Regional office Abuja, Adele Nibona said the Japan-UNESCO project is aimed at promoting the empowerment of women and girls in marginalised communities for resilience strengthening and self actualisation.
“The project also provide psycho social rehabilitation in support of survivors of SGBV, equip the media with strategies for developing quality content on gender sensitive reportage and countering misinformation and disinformation around COVID-19.”
The project has succeeded in providing basic literacy knowledge to 99 out the 100 target learners through a six months course, build capacity of CSOs on knowledge and respect of existing rights of women to become key advocates and actors in preventing SGBV.
Also, 25 SGBV women and girls survivors were rehabilitated through counseling.
Some of the learners and SGBV survivors commended Japan-UNESCO for giving them to the opportunity for a new life.
