FG to unveil $100m women empowerment project

Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, minister of women affairs, says the federal government is set to introduce a $100 million World Bank funded project to economically empower Nigerian women.

Kennedy-Ohanenye spoke on Monday while briefing journalists, after a solidarity walk with women organisations, as part of activities to mark the 2024 International Women’s Day in Abuja.

She said the project, tagged P-BAT Cares, seeks to empower women with capacities.

She said the project will address issues of norms and harmful practices to women and children, adding that it comprises “everything that will make the country right”.

“From the onset, President Bola Tinubu has said ‘allow the poor breathe’ and ordered serious support by signing for a restructured Nigeria for women project, so that help coming for women will go directly to the vulnerable women and the rural women,” she said.

“He is equally encouraging that there will be no more advocacies, meetings, consultancies or technical supports, training and research from both borrowed monies and donors monies.

“As far as he has signed this, I said I should call my people, the media. The president cannot achieve all these things he is hoping to achieve for women and children without the media.

“Remember that when women are taken care of, the nation is already taken care of.

“On the 7th of March, Mr. President is unveiling P-BAT Care for Nigerian women. For the first time, we have a president who cares for the Nigerian women. That is why this year’s International Women’s Day is a special one.

“The project has women empowerment, economic sustainable empowerment toward the women, it has issues of attacking norms and harmful practices like female genital mutilation (FGM), child labour, out-of-school children, and early and money marriages going on and so many other things.

“Also, the president has endorsed a mobile court to address violence against women and children. President Bola Tinubu has also asked for the restructuring of women for women project.”

The minister raised concerns about the exploitation of donor organisations by certain groups and individuals, in the name of supporting vulnerable Nigerians.

She said the government will be inaugurating the integrity brigade, which the media will be part of, to prevent misappropriation of funds meant for Nigerians.

“They use terms like consultancy, advocacy, research and to get these monies, but for how long should we allow this as Nigerians?” she added.

“I want the media to join the integrity brigade. The integrity brigade is to fight these ills.

“So I am pleading that for the sake of our country, we use this opportunity well to get things right.”