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Tag: women’s rights

  • Women Affairs Secretariat: Tinubu Appoints Benjamin-Laniyi As Mandate Secretary

    President Bola Tinubu has approved the appointment of Mrs Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi as the Mandate Secretary for the newly created Women Affairs Secretariat of the Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA).

    Mr Anthony Ogunleye, Director of Press, Office of the Minister of the FCT, Mr Nyesom Wike made the disclosure in a statement in Abuja on Monday.

    Ogunleye said that Benjamins-Laniyi would play a pivotal role in the FCTA’s commitment to promoting the well-being and empowerment of women and children in the Federal Capital Territory.

    He expressed optimism that her appointment would further strengthen the formidable administrative team led by Wike and the Minister of State, Dr Mariya Mahmoud.

    Ogunleye added that Benjamins-Laniyi, born in 1965 from Ogun, was appointed for her exemplary qualifications and dedication to public service.

    “With over 35 years of experience as a communications consultant, social entrepreneur, international mentor, and environmentalist, Mrs Benjamins-Laniyi would bring a wealth of knowledge to her new role.

    “She attended Queens College, Lagos, for her secondary school education and a 1989 graduate of English from the University of Ibadan.

    “She has made significant contributions to society as a prominent compere and renowned motivational speaker.

    “Her passion for social issues, particularly those affecting women and children, is evident in her remarkable work.

    “She has also showcased her commitment to women’s political participation by aspiring for a senatorial position in the All Progressives Congress (APC) in 2022,” he said.

    Ogunleye added that as the Grand Matron of “Hope Again for FCT Women in Politics”, Benjamins-Laniyi had played a vital role in encouraging and mentoring women in the political arena.

    According to him, her deep understanding of the political landscape and her ability to navigate complex policy challenges will undoubtedly contribute to the advancement of women’s rights and well-being in the FCT. 

  • Increased Investment In Women Will Improve Nigeria’s GDP -UN

    UN Women Regional Director for East Africa, West, and Central Africa, Maxime Houinato, has said that in order to bridge the multi-sectoral gender gaps in Nigeria and improve the standard of living for women and girls, there is need for the federal government to commit specific percent of national budgets and development funds to interventions that address gender disparity in Nigeria.

    Maxime Houinato is in Nigeria for an executive visit.

    In a press briefing on Friday at the UN House in Abuja, Houinato said that increased allocation of specific budget lines to address gender disparity in Nigeria would empower more women.   

    “Women are at the heart of human capital for economic development in any nation – health, education, agriculture, and business. Gender disparity and the suffering of women are having a detrimental impact on the building of that human capital which is at the centre of productivity and development,” Houinato said.  

    The UN Women regional director met with various stakeholders in Lagos and Abuja including the Minister of Budget and National Planning, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu.

    In Lagos, a $25million GBV fund was launched as part of a contribution from Nigeria’s private sector. The fund will serve to fund gender responsive interventions that will curb violence against women and girls and enhance women’s empowerment.

    He said, “I was rushed to Lagos by my team the moment I landed in Abuja to look at a couple of initiatives. One of them is the establishment by the private sector with the technical support of the UN Women of a $25 million GBV Fund. This is the first time in Africa that the private sector is coming together to take up such issues as GBV and to put hard currency on the table.  

    “When I met the minister of Budget, he really appreciated that contribution and that the government might consider a tax break for private companies that decide to put money on the table to address gender equality issues that have always been the contribution of the government to the private sector initiative.

    “I was also thrilled to meet with the Nigeria Exchange group that has decided to start working with UN Women to launch in 2025 the first gender bond in Nigeria with contribution from various investors into gathering resources to address the lack of opportunity that women suffer from.

    “Those initiatives are interesting because so far, the government has been putting resources for critical elements of gender inequality. Now we believe more and more the private sector is getting interested, the reason being that gender based violence, gender inequality that was placed in the social sector has now moved to the economic sector where we recognize that inequality is crippling the economy.”

    In her remarks, UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Beatrice Eyong, stated that the financial implication of GBV is enormous and reiterated that if the prevalence of violence against women and girls reduces, family income and earnings will improve and so will the economy of the society at large.

  • She Forum Africa announces regional chairs for newly instituted hubs

    As part of ongoing internal re-organization efforts, She Forum Africa, a pan-Africa Women Development, Intergenerational Mentorship, Leadership & Lifestyle Community has instituted regional Hubs to deepen advocacy initiatives and strengthen women’s share of voice in local African communities.

    In a statement by Founder and Chairperson of the Forum, Ms. Inimfon Etuk, “the recent composition of Regional Hubs for East, West & South Africa and a Diaspora Hub are part of internal re-organization efforts to strengthen the bargaining power of women and create a much-needed avenue for African women in local communities to own the process of transformation towards Africa we want and deserve. The Hubs are Chaired by women leaders who have distinguished themselves as formidable agents of true development in their respective rights.”

    According to Etuk, Hon. Nadia Ahmed Abdalla, former Deputy Minister, Ministry of ICT, Innovation & Youth Affairs, Republic of Kenya who takes up the role as Regional Chair, East Africa Hub; Dr. Sindy Zemura-Bernard, Founder/CEO of the Southern Africa Embrace Foundation, Canada, who takes up the role as Regional Chair, South Africa Hub; and Mrs. Renee Q. Boateng, Founder, Butterflies and Pearls, Ghana, who will serve as Regional Chair, West Africa Hub. Also named is Dr. Mercy O. Umeri, Assistant Teaching Professor/MiniMPA Coordinator, Hugo Wall School, Wichita State University, Kansas, USA appointed as Chair, Diaspora Hub while Asiya Sani Suleiman, a Communications professional and “Garkuwan Mata” of Abaji has been unveiled as the Organization’s Director, Partnerships & Corporate Engagement. 

    She Forum Africa has as its core mission, to amplify personal development opportunities for African women through strategic mentoring and life-long learning within a home-grown, African-led initiative. In addition to advocacy on issues affecting women’s health, wellbeing and rights, her programmes are designed to assist young females, entrepreneurs and female professionals advance their careers and life goals in a traditionally male environment by providing insight into relevant skills for personal growth.

    “We are constantly updating our skills through various initiatives and capacity building experiences to ensure we remain a credible, tested and preferred Partner for Organizations desirous of heightened impact in their respective spheres,” Etuk added.