December 02, (THEWILL) – Nigeria’s First Lady, Sen Oluremi Tinubu, has announced the intention of “No Woman, No Nation” (NWNN) organisation, to empower 6,000 women in Benue State.
The First Lady made the disclosure on Friday, during the inauguration of the State and Local Government chapters of NWNN in Makurdi, the state capital.
Represented at the ceremony by the National Chairman of NWNN, Amb. Akintola Oluwasayo, Sen Tinubu said
the objectives of the organisation was to empower women and encourage their participation in more public activities in the country.
According to her, the programme would instantly lift up 6,000 Benue women out of poverty, adding that more were underway; saying the focus is for all inclusiveness Gender balance and peaceful and better Environment for business.
“No woman, No Nation’s forum will lift 6000 women out of poverty immediately after the Inauguration in Benue state at the first stage.
“NWNN Palliatives project will impact positively on socioeconomic development of states across all Local Government”, pointing out that the organisation was committed to advancing gender equality and empowering women across states and supporting the widows.
“NWNN was established immediately after the general election to carter for the needs of women across the 774 Local Government Areas in the country.”
Speaking, Benue State Governor, Revd Fr Hyacinth Alia, commended the wife of the president for her commitment to the empowerment of women in the Country.
Governor Alia hinted that his administration was against any form of practices, programmes and cultural beliefs that are harmful to women.
He said his administration would continue to cherish the role of women in nation building and give them the desired recognition.
On ALIA CARES initiative, he said the programme has so much in stock for the Benue women.
The National Director Welfare and Planning, North Central of NWNN and and the State Commissioner for Cooperatives Urban and Rural Development, Mrs Joy Luga, said the programme would lift thousands of women out of poverty in the State.
The Commissioner regretted that depsite the immense contributions of women for the development of the country, they were often neglected in the scheme of things.
“In spite of the potentials women hold for their Country, yet women are highly ignored in the development efforts due to some cultural stereotype, economic limitations, unfavorable traditional practices, religion barriers, lack of recognition for women in positions of authority, lack of clear policy for women’s political ambition as well as patriarchal societal structures.
“The opposite of these challenges are clearly the solutions to women non-participation or less participation in both politics and other socioeconomic endeavours.”
She called for legislation that would protect the interests of all women in respective of their cultural backgrounds that would give them more participation in almost all public activities.
High points of the event was the inauguration of the State and Local Government chapters of the NWNN in Benue.
