The Presidency, SDGs National Students Council, (Office of the Senior Special Assistant to the President of Nigeria on Students Engagement) has commended the Government of Canada for its empowerment initiatives aimed at enhancing the capacities and voices of Nigerian women through the Women's Voice and Leadership Nigeria Project.
The project, which was funded by Global Affairs Canada, worked to increase gender equality and reduce gender disparities in Nigeria. It provided training, mentorship and financial support to women-led organizations and women's rights groups working to advance women's empowerment and gender equality. The project also engaged with influential men and boys to challenge harmful gender stereotypes and promote gender equitable social norms.
Amb. Timothy Nwachukwu LLB, the National Coordinator, SDGs National Students Council, gave the commendation while speaking to newsmen in Abuja after a courtesy and collaboration meeting with Arash Irantalab Tehrani, Canadian Counsellor and Head of Development Cooperation, and Josephine Obinyan, Development Officer, Development Cooperation Section at the High Commission of Canada in Abuja.
Amb. Nwachukwu praised the Canadian government for its support for women's empowerment in Nigeria. "The contributions of the Government of Canada through the Women's Voice and Leadership Nigeria Project have been invaluable in strengthening women's voices and leadership in Nigeria," he said. "The project's focus on enhancing women's capacities, challenging gender stereotypes, and promoting gender equality aligns with our own objectives and commitment to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, particularly SDG 5 on gender equality."
Amb. Nwachukwu highlighted the importance of empowering women and girls in order to achieve sustainable development. "When women are empowered, entire families and societies benefit. Women's empowerment is critical for reducing poverty, improving health, increasing economic productivity and promoting peace and stability," he noted. "As students, we recognize the need to support initiatives that promote gender equality and challenge discriminatory attitudes and practices that hold women back."
He also commended the implementing partners of the project, including ActionAid Nigeria, for their efforts in mobilizing and supporting 100 women led groups in promoting gender responsive policies at state and national levels. "Available data showed that the project's partners positively impacted 7,150,153 women and girls including people with disability (PWD) across 24 States and the Fct in Nigeria, disbursed 178 grants to 153 Women led Organisations while the sum of #271,445,478 (250,637 CAD) was saved by 7,563 women through the village savings and loans Associations (VSLA) among other results and we hope to see a continuation of the project."
The SDGs National Students Council pledged to collaborate with the Canadian High Commission and it's Implementing partners in supporting women's empowerment and gender equality in Nigeria. "We have a critical role to play in sensitizing and mobilizing young people to support gender equality. We look forward to working with the Commission and it's Implementing partners to create more awareness about the importance of empowering women and girls and challenging harmful gender stereotypes," Amb. Nwachukwu stated.
The Women's Voice and Leadership Nigeria Project aligned with the Federal Government of Nigeria's commitment to gender equality as encapsulated in the Nigeria's Strategic Roadmap on Plummeting Ending Violence Against Women and Girls and other relevant policies. The Government of Canada remains a key partner of the Nigeria government in advancing gender equality and women's empowerment in the country.
*sdgnsc@gmail.com*
No comments:
Post a Comment