Government Should Fashion Out Policies To Protect Women, Girl Child

By Hassan Umar Shallpella

The Chairman, Network of Adamawa Nongovernmental Organizations NANGO,  umbrella body of all non-governmental organizations operating in Adamawa state, Ambassador Peter Egwudah has enjoined government at to fashion out policies geared towards promoting and protecting women and girl child.

He was speaking during an event in commemoration of this year’s International Women’s Day organized by Community of Adamawa Civil Society Organization, CACO and the Adamawa Nongovernmental Organizations NANGO.

Egwudah said it would accommodate them more, noted that exclusion of women in decision making process has been identified as one of the major causes of crises globally.

“Government at all levels should take it as a matter of priority to ensure that policies that are geared towards bringing the female gender down should be expunge or reviewed to accommodate them more  and exclusion of people in decision making process has been identified as one of the major triggers of crisis globally today.

“Bringing in people to participate on issues that affects them to discuss like cohesion, development and peace, so in this twenty first century we can bring women to a round table for us to discuss and for them also to be policy makers,” he said.

Egwudah noted that women constitute half of Nigeria’s population for which they should not be stigmatize while allowing them to contribute to the development of the society.

Also speaking, the Executive Chairman, Adamawa State Planning Commission Doctor Mary Paninga explained that the present administration in the state has ensured that the budgetary allocation for women is risen by two hundred percent particularly for two thousand and twenty-two budget.

She added that the State Planning Commission coordinates the activities of all NGOs and development partners that come to the state, explaining that it ensures that the component of the women led activities are given due attention in planning.

Doctor Paninga pointed out that the state government does not take Sexual Gender Based Violence lightly, while the forensic laboratory established at Modibbo Adama University Yola is meant to help in investing Gender Based Violence cases.

“The state government is trying to institute a technological component through the state planning commission on projects and GBV is part of so that at the dashboard we will know where the crime is perpetrated and the result will be on the data base,” he said.

In her remark, the Deputy Director Mrs Grace Kurkuwa of the legislative Department of the Adamawa State House of Assembly, said attempts have been made to introduce the Child Right Act, but were hampered by sentiments due to religiuos and cultural differences.

“The equal opportunity bill which came on board some five years back was a great struggle with the men, because we have no space in the assembly, most of times we have only two women or one woman in the assembly and to struggle to be able to fast track the bill that has to do with women,” she said

She however, observed that the bill when passed will solve many problems that women face in the society in terms of discrimination, and relegation.

Mrs Kurkuwa noted that the present legislation as contained in the Child Right Acts will address issues that affect children regardless of gender.

Earlier, Mrs Nancie Ahmadu said women play key roles in the management, conservation and utilization of resources despite having serious limitation with regard to access to these resources.

“Women and girls everywhere must have equal rights and opportunities and be able to live free of violence and discrimination.

“It is important for us to understand that we are moving towards an exciting time in history where the world now expects diversity, equity and inclusion.

“Women play key roles in the management, conservation and utilization of resources despite having serious limitation in access to these resources. Rural women are the principal agricultural producers and as such are essential to food security in our communities,” he said.

Mrs Ahmadu said rural women are the principal agricultural producers and as such are essential to food security in the country.

The organizations earlier held a walk rally from Adamawa state secretariat Yola to Duragi hotel, venue of the sensitization workshop.