Nigerian Govt to empower women with $100m

Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, has announced on Monday plans by the federal government to implement a $100 million project funded by the World Bank aimed at bolstering the economic empowerment of Nigerian women.

Kennedy-Ohanenye made the announcement while addressing journalists following a solidarity walk with women organizations in Abuja as part of activities commemorating the 2024 International Women’s Day.

She revealed that the project, named P-BAT Cares, aims to enhance the capabilities of women and will address issues such as harmful practices against women and children, encompassing various initiatives to improve the country’s welfare.

She highlighted President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to supporting vulnerable women and rural communities by ensuring that aid directly reaches those in need without bureaucratic hurdles.

Kennedy-Ohanenye emphasized the importance of media support in achieving the government’s objectives, stressing that when women are empowered, the nation as a whole benefits.

She also discussed the comprehensive nature of the project, which includes economic empowerment initiatives for women, efforts to combat harmful practices like female genital mutilation and child marriage, and the establishment of a mobile court to address violence against women and children.

Additionally, Kennedy-Ohanenye expressed concerns about the misuse of funds by certain groups posing as donor organizations and announced the government’s plans to launch an integrity brigade, which will involve the media, to prevent misappropriation of funds meant for Nigerians.

She urged the media to join the integrity brigade in ensuring transparency and accountability in the distribution of funds for the betterment of the country.