mp2013: federal ministry of women affairs

2013 MINISTERIAL

PLATFORM:

PRESIDENT GOODLUCK EBELE JONATHAN’S ADMINISTRATION

in the

by

Hajiya Zainab Maina,MFR, FCIA

HONOURABLE MINISTER OF WOMEN AFFAIRS & SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT

Tuesday 25th June, 2013

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ProtocolI am very delighted to welcome you all to the 2013 Ministerial Platform ofthe Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, which ispart of the activities lined up to commemorate the Mid-Term Anniversaryof President Goodluck Jonathan’s Administration.

I thank the Almighty God for this great privilege to deliver this briefing onthe programmes and achievements of the present Administration sinceassumption of office about two years ago. I thank you all for making timeto share our experiences, assured as we are that through you, thegenerality of our people will get to know of the modest strides we havemade over the past two years in our bid to contribute to the advancementof women, children, persons with disabilities, the elderly as well as othervulnerable groups whom we are privileged to serve. In particular, I wishto thank my colleague in the Federal Ministry of Information, Mr. LabaranMaku, under whose auspices this briefing is holding.

2013 Ministerial Platform

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The Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and SocialDevelopment has the unique responsibility ofaddressing the issues and concerns of about 70 percentof Nigeria’s population that occupy the low portion ofthe economic ladder, which include Women, Children,Persons with Disabilities, the Elderly and otherVulnerable Nigerians.

For us to succeed in this most challenging nationalassignment, we had to deploy unique and practicalstrategies that would bring about accelerateddevelopment in this vitally important sector.

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Guided by President Goodluck Jonathan’sTransformation Agenda and selflesscommitment to the entrenchment ofAffirmative Action in all facets of nationallife, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairsand Social Development wishes to place onrecord the following achievementsrecorded by the Administration within theperiod under review:

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o If there is one aspect of governance over whichthere is overwhelming national consensus inwhich the Jonathan Administration has excelledin the past two years, it is in the integration ofwomen into National Development.

o This is because in all the policies and programmesof the present Administration, the issues ofAffirmative Action, Gender Mainstreaming,Equity and Balance, are the most significant.


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This is in view of the

fact that in all the 100

years of Nigeria’s

corporate existence, it

has never witnessed the

monumental visibility

and inclusion of women

in governance and

decision-making as it

has in the past two

years.


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o Indeed, I make bold to say that what PresidentJonathan did for the Nigerian women in just aspan of two years, has superseded by far whatother Nigerian leaders did within 98 years ofleading our nation.

o Living up to his campaign promise to thateffect, President Goodluck Jonathan hasraised the number of women holding decisionmaking position in the Federal Government toan unprecedented level.


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We have witnessed the appointments of:

• 13 female Ministers

• 5 Special Advisers

• 10 female Ambassadors

• 11 female Permanent Secretaries

• 16 female Judges of the Federal High Court


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• 16 female Judges of the Court of Appeal

• 3 female Judges of the Supreme Court

• 6 female Judges of the National Industrial Court

• Acting President, Court of Appeal; and

• The Chief Justice of the Federation.


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Undoubtedly, these appointments have set thestage for the attainment of the MillenniumDevelopment Goals (MDGs) target numberthree on Gender Equity and WomenEmpowerment, and also laid a solid foundationfor transforming Nigeria into one of the top 20economies of the world by the year 2020.


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Establishment of Gender Units in All

Federal MDAs


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Even more significant is the commitment of theAdministration to leave a permanent legacy onAffirmative Action in public life, bymainstreaming Gender in the Federal CivilService. As a practical demonstration to thiscommitment, the Federal Executive Councilapproved for the establishment of Gender Unitsin all Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAs), and the appointment of the DirectorateCadre to head such units.

Establishment of Gender Units in All Federal MDAs


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You will recall that in my briefing in May last year, Istated that when fully operational, these Units willensure the reflection of gender perspectives in theBudget System of all MDAs as well as incorporategender components in National Accounting System,Recruitments and Appointments. To ensure the fulltakeoff of this vitally important aspect of gendermainstreaming, we are currently liaising with theOffice of the Head of the Civil Service of theFederation and the Federal Civil Service Commissionfor the creation of appropriate Cadre and theappointment of relevant officers to coordinate theactivities of the Gender Units.

Establishment of Gender Units in All Federal MDAs…Contd.


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GENDER BUDGETING

Honourable Minister of Women Affairs & Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina during an Advocacy Visit on Improved Gender Budgeting to the Coordinating

Minister for the Economy and Hon. Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala

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A very remarkable achievement by theAdministration within the period under review isthe bold initiative to commence GenderBudgeting with five (5) pilot Federal Ministriesthat include Agriculture, Health, CommunicationTechnology, Water Resources and Works.

Beginning with the 2013 Budget, the total sumof 3 billion naira has been earmarked to caterfor Gender Related components of the Budget inthe affected Ministries.

GENDER BUDGETING

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ADVOCACY


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In our efforts to ensure the implementation ofpolicies and programmes by all tiers ofgovernment and other stakeholders thatrepresent Nigeria’s regional and globalcommitments to the welfare and developmentof women, children, Persons with Disabilitiesand the Elderly, we adopted Advocacy as astrategic tool.


Advocacy

Hon. Minister of WomenAffairs & Social Dev., HajiyaZainab Maina (L) and theSecretary to the Governmentof the Federation, Sen. AnyimPius Anyim during theMinister’s Advocacy Visit tothe SGF’s Office.

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i. High-level Advocacy

A very important aspect of our Advocacy Project is thecommencement of high-level Advocacy Visits at theFederal Level to the National Assembly, Ministries,Departments and Agencies, all in an effort to ensuremulti-faceted approaches to holistically tackle thevarious challenges, and problems confronting ourmandate groups.

Advocacy…Contd.


Partnership with the Minister of Information, Mr. Labaran Maku on Child Development

Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya Zainab Maina and the Minister of National Planning, Dr. Shamsuddeen Usman

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At this juncture, I am happy to report that our Advocacy to both the Senate President and the Honourable Speaker of the House of Representatives has brought about renewed vigourwith which the National Assembly is now dealing with Bills, especially relating to women, Persons with Disabilities and the Elderly.

Advocacy…Contd.


High-level Advocacy…Contd.

Women Affairs Minister, Hajiya Zainab Maina and Senate

President, David Mark 21

Our Advocacy Visit to the Governorof the Central Bank has alsobrought about the initiation offavourable policies that will enablewomen have easier access to loansand other financial support fromCommercial Banks to boost theireconomic activities. Of particularinterest is the recent directive bythe CBN that as from 2014, 30percent of Board Directors of Banksmust be women, while banks havebeen compelled to publishpositions allocated to women andmen in their organizations.


Advocacy…Contd.High-level Advocacy…Contd.

Hon. Minister of Women Affairs & Social Dev.,Hajiya Zainab Maina (L) in a discussion with the

CBN Governor, Mal. Sanusi Lamido Sanusi duringan Advocacy Visit to the Apex Bank

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As a result of our engagement with the FederalMinistry of Agriculture, Labour Saving FarmingEquipment/Implements for Women Farmers willsoon be introduced while capital support will beprovided to Women Farmers Cooperatives andGroups, in an effort to enhance theirproductions and increase farm output.

Advocacy…Contd.


High-level AdvocacyHigh-level Advocacy…Contd.

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In the same vein, our Advocacy to the FederalMinister of Health has resulted in newpartnership in the areas of Maternal and ChildMortality, Control and Treatment of Breast andCervical Cancers, HIV/AIDS and Malaria control.Popularizing the use of primary healthcarefacilities in the rural areas will also be intensifiedgoing forward.

Advocacy…Contd.



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In addition, our visit to Inspector General of Policehas resulted in increased collaboration inaddressing rampant cases of Rape, Violence againstWomen, Prostitution, Hawking by Children andChild Trafficking. Similarly, additional Gender Desksare being established in Police Stations across thecountry to specifically address gender basedviolence. This is after the Desk Officers undergospecialized training programme to equip them withskills and competencies in handling such casesproperly.

Advocacy…Contd.



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ii. State AdvocacyIn recognition of Advocacy as our greatest tool ofengagement, we undertook visits to the States of theFederation, where we engaged the States’ Executive, theLegislature, Traditional Rulers, Non-GovernmentalOrganizations and Community-Based Organizations, toseek for legal and administrative reforms and policies onthe advancement of women, children, PWDs and othervulnerable members of the society. We paid particularattention on the need for State Governments to introduceappropriate reforms and policies towards the reductionof Maternal and Child Mortality, increased budgetaryallocation to female reproductive health, womenempowerment, Child Development and welfare ofPersons with Disabilities and the elderly.


Advocacy…Contd.

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ii. State Advocacy…Contd.In addition to establishing partnership with theState Governments, we also visited and distributedaids, appliances and relief materials to Women andChildren Hospitals, Children Homes, Old People’sHomes, VVF Centres and Persons With Disabilities.We also met and interacted with our mandategroups with a view to listening to their peculiarproblems as the first step towards planningevidence-based interventions. Within the period,we visited Adamawa, Lagos, Oyo, Kaduna, Ekiti,Kogi, Jigawa and Kano States. In fact, tomorrow weare setting out to Bayelsa and Delta States.


Advocacy…Contd.

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ii. State Advocacy…Contd.At this juncture, I am very pleased to acknowledgethe positive responses of the State Governmentswe have visited so far, as all of them have alreadystarted free anti-natal and post-natal care forpregnant women and children below the ages of 5,in an effort to contribute to the reduction ofMaternal and Child Mortality. They have alsostarted executing positive Policies, Programmes andProjects on women, children and Persons WithDisabilities. There is now a renewed vigour acrossthe States on increased participation of women ingovernance and decision making process.


Advocacy…Contd.

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Advocacy…Contd.

iii)Policy Dialogue with Development Partners

Another platform we adopted was the introductionof a Consultative Meeting and Policy Dialogue withour Development Partners with a view to solicitingfor improved support and funding.

Picture Caption:Minister of Women Affairs & Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina with World Bank officials during Their visit to the Ministry

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Advocacy…Contd.

Courtesy call on the Honourable

Minister by the Country Director,

Chichi Aniagolu and other officials

of OXFAM

The idea here is to re-kindle their interest and focustheir interventions in the new policy direction of thepresent Administration along the path of nationaltransformation. This has been rewarding as thesepartners have identified with us in different areas andthis, we are optimistic will continue.

iii)Policy Dialogue with Development Partners…Contd.


Minister by Officials of the Polish

Government


Minister by U.N Envoys

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Advocacy…Contd.

iv. Forum of Female Ministers and Special Advisers to the President

This strategy was adopted in a bid toscale-up response on AffirmativeAction, Gender-mainstreaming andGender-focused Budgeting andtake-off of Gender Units in theMDAs.

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Advocacy…Contd.

The objective of creating the forum is to furtherprovide Nigerian women in governance and decisionmaking with a platform upon which they could meetand share ideas, compare notes on theirexperiences in governance and strategize properly inmeeting the challenges of mainstreaming genderissues in national development. Expectedly, theForum has added value to mainstreaming gender ingovernance and ensures the success of theTransformation Agenda across the sectors.

iv. Forum of Female Ministers and Special Advisers to the President…Contd.

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EMPOWERMENT OF WOMENMy Ministry, recognizing the fact that majorityof our women are poor, has worked hard incollaboration with other partners, to put inplace mechanisms to boost womenentrepreneurial activities as well as encourageskills acquisition especially for rural women.

Consequently, interventions for the economicempowerment of women were carried outwithin the reporting period in the followingareas: 34


EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN

77 Skills Acquisition Centres under construction across the country , 24 Centres are completed and fully equipped;

Completed And Equipped Skills Acquisition Centre At

Birin-Kebbi

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EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN…Contd.

Each Skills Acquisition Centre isexpected to train 500 womenand persons with disabilitiesper year to reduceunemployment and associatedsocial vices in the society,increase income generationthrough job creation forwomen and assist in reducingyouth restiveness, especially atthe grassroots.

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The Ministry operates 2 major Micro-creditschemes namely:

o Business Development Fund (BUDFOW)

o Women Fund for Economic Empowerment(WOFEE)

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In collaboration with Bank of Industry: This rendersfinancial and technical support to Nigerian womenentrepreneurs with prospect for businessdevelopment but constrained by lack of access tocredit facilities from the conventional financialinstitutions. Within the period under review, a totalof 56 Women projects have received about N82Million from the revolving loan of the scheme.

Business Development Fund (BUDFOW)

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In collaboration with Bank of Agriculture and the States:This provides group credit facilities to women cooperativesin rurall areas. Within the last two years, about 5500women groups/ cooperatives have received N27.2 Millionout of which over 6000 jobs in animal fattening, poultry,farming, and trading were created during the period. 28States of the Federation are participating in the scheme,out of which 12 States have contributed their counterpartfunds in the sum of N 103,500,000.00 to WOFEE.

The two schemes are revolving facilities with interest rateof 10%.

Women Fund for Economic Empowerment (WOFEE)

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Other initiatives on Empowerment of Women Include:

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Other initiatives on Empowerment of Women

Distributed Skills AcquisitionEquipment to VVF RehabilitationCentres in Adamawa, Akwa-Ibom,Anambra, Bayelsa, Borno, Delta,Ebonyi, Ekiti, Jigawa, Kaduna,Kano, Kwara, Niger, Ondo, Sokoto,Yobe, and Zamfara States. Theseinclude Irrigation Pumpingmachines, Grinding machines,Sewing Machines, CommercialPhone Booth Accessories, Clothingand other materials necessary fortraining and commercial activities.

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EMPOWERMENT OF WOMEN…Contd.Other initiatives on Empowerment of Women…Contd.

Support to 5 (Five) NGOs to the tune ofover N5Million to establish variouseconomic ventures, and in turn employedover 1000 vulnerable women at thegrassroots;

About 2000 vulnerable women, includingwomen in distress, Women with disabilities,Widows, Victims of HIV/AIDs were grant-aided and provided with empowermentequipment such as Grinding Machines,Coolers, Hair Dryers, Tailoring andEmbroidery Machines to make them selfreliant;

TRAINING OF PWDs AT

GRINDING SKILL CENTRE

PWDs AT HAIRDRESSING

SALON

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Established 6 Cottage Industries to support women engaged inthe processing of farm produce. These projects are located in:

Abia, Ekiti, Cross River, Delta; and Sokoto States,

and were established in line with activities of cooperativegroups that specialize in different areas of production andavailability of raw materials.

Other initiatives on Empowerment of Women…Contd.

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Signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with theNigerian Capital Development Fund, for the implementationof a National Grassroots Economic Empowerment Scheme, aspart of effort to reduce poverty and unemployment in thecountry, especially for the rural women. Already, a TechnicalTeam with membership from NCDF and the Ministry iscurrently working towards the timely takeoff of the Fund.

We reported last year that an Inter-Ministerial Committee onWomen in Agribusiness between my Ministry and the FederalMinistry of Agriculture and Rural Development wasconstituted to mainstream gender in the agricultural sector.


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This is with a view to raising the access bar of womenin agricultural assets and to situate them to benefitfrom the programme on the Nigeria Inventive-BasedRisk Sharing System for Agricultural Lending (NIRSAL). Iam now glad to report that Women in Agribusinesshave started enjoying from the support beingprovided to them by the Federal Ministry ofAgriculture in the areas of extension services, seedsand seedlings, fertilizer and other farming inputs. Inaddition, local production of women-friendly farmingimplements and processing machines to enhanceproductions will soon be available for women farmers.


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In recognition of our role to provide the policyframework to guide all our stakeholders and tointegrate our issues and concerns into theirsectors, we are developing new policies andreviewing some existing ones as follows:

The Ministry has prepared a draft Social WelfarePolicy in Nigeria aimed at improving the welfare ofthe society’s most vulnerable and disadvantagedgroups notably, the Poor, Families in Distress,Older Persons, Discharged Offenders, Destitutesand the Needy was developed in 2012 and iscurrently being validated. 47


Picture Caption:(L-R) United Nations Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative in Nigeria, Mr. Daouda Toure, representative of UN Women to Nigeria and the ECOWAS,Dr. Grace Ongile, Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina and Deputy Inspector General of Police, CID, Peter Gana launching the Policy Document

The Gender Policy for the Nigeria Police waslaunched in September 2012, as a necessarytool to engender the Police as well asprovide the necessary guide towards properhandling of Gender-based Violence.

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The Ministry participated in the review ofthe 1999 Constitution, to ensure that genderperspectives are incorporated in thereviewed document.

Above all, the Ministry is currentlyreviewing the National Gender Policy(2006) and its Strategic ImplementationFramework and Plan (2008) to tackle casesof gender concerns and global emergingissues; and participation

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Nigerian women constitute about half of thepopulation of the country. But despite theirnumerical strength and active participation ascampaign agents, mobilizers and most faithfulvoters at every election, they have always facedchallenges and resistance when efforts weremade by them to participate in politics or to bepolitically empowered.

Women in Politics

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For long, social norms and beliefs had relegated our women to subordinate position in the nation’s political arena.

However, today, there is increased activism and a consequential increasing number of women who aspire for elected office. We commend the visionary initiatives of Mr. President to encourage the increased participation of women in politics, especially in the last two years.

Women in Politics…Contd.

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Within the period under review, we havecontinued to strengthen our women politicalmobilization structures to ensure greater increasein the number of women in elective positions.

We are currently refocusing the activities of oursix Women Zonal Political EmpowermentOffices towards identifying resourcefulcandidates that will contest in subsequentelections;


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We are also currently working with theManagement of the Nigerian Women TrustFund, towards sourcing for additional resourcesthat would support women candidates;

The Ministry has been working withDevelopment Partners and other stakeholderstowards building the capacities of prospectivewomen candidates in the arts of politicking;


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The Ministry is intensifying Advocacy and Lobbyto States, Political Party Offices and otherstakeholders, to canvass for a more favourableclimate for women politicians; and

We are also concluding arrangements toresuscitate our ‘100 Women Lobby Group’ toswing into action and mobilize support forgreater participation of women in politics andgovernance in readiness for the 2015 GeneralElection.

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Improvement of the Reproductive and HealthRights of Women

The Ministry within the period under reviewundertook the following interventions to reducematernal mortality rate in Nigeria:

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Distributed 2,500 Mama Kits during advocacy visits to various States;

Supported the training of specialized Health Personnel;

Conducted research on maternal health and distribution of publications on social causes of maternal deaths;

Improvement of the Reproductive and Health Rights of Women…Contd.

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Distributed 5,000 delivery kits forindigent pregnant women aimed at saferbirth deliveries;

Undertook advocacy and social mobilization campaigns for improved maternal mortality at National and State levels.

Improvement of the Reproductive and Health Rights of Women…Contd.

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KEY DELIVERABLES BASELINE

(2011 Dec.)

PLANNED TARGET

(2012 Dec.)

ACTUAL ACHIEVEMENT

(2012 December)

IMPROVEMENT OF REPRODUCTIVE & HEALTH RIGHTS

OF WOMEN

Number of Women supported 5,000 7,000 7,500

Number of Primary Health Care Supported with Boat Ambulances

3 6 3

Number of VVF cases supported

720 150 100

ACHIEVEMENTS AGAINST KEY PERFORMANCE INDICATORS (KPIs) CONT’D

Table 1

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Gender Based Violence (GBV), most especially Violence Against Women and girls (VAW), is a subject matter of Human Rights and liberties. This has taken centre stage in global discourse with a significant determination for action to end it.

Government policies adopted by different agencies to combat all forms of violence against women/girls in Nigeria include:

GENDER BASED VIOLENCE

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The National Gender Policy (presentlyundergoing review) and the Child Rights’ Actwhich has been passed into law by 23 out of36 States;

the Draft Sexual Harassment Policy forEducational Institutions by Federal Ministryof Education; the Policy prohibiting SexualHarassment in the Work place by FederalMinistry of Labour; and

GENDER BASED VIOLENCE…Contd.

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The Elimination of Violence Against PersonsBill by Legislative Advocacy Coalition onViolence Against Women (LACVAW) and thePolice Gender Policy by the Nigerian PoliceForce.


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My Ministry is overwhelmed with series ofviolent cases requiring urgent legal attention assuch; we are currently working with the FederalMinistry of Justice, Human Rights Commission,FIDA, WRAPA, NAPTIP, other Civil SocietyGroups and Non-Governmental Organisations,to ensure the passage of appropriatelegislations to address these unwholesomeviolations of women’s rights.


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I am however delighted to report that ourcollective efforts have started yielding positiveresults. These include:

The successful passage of Violence AgainstPersons Prohibition Bill by NationalAssembly (now awaiting Mr. President’saccent) ;and the Gender and EqualOpportunities Bill (GEOB) awaiting passageby the National Assembly;

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Participation in the United NationsDevelopment Programme on Gender Issuesand the constitutional review;

Support for the successful election of thecountry’s candidates Mrs. Theodora ObyNwankwo into the UN Committee of Expertson Convention on the Elimination of all formsof Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW) for4 years; and of Ms. Ekaete Judith Umoh asRehabilitation International (RI)-Vice President(African Region).

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Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence

Within the period under review, the Ministrycommenced full services at the Kurudu Centrefor Female Victims of Domestic Violence in theFCT. The place has been fully refurbished andadequate facilities put in place to ensuremaximum usage. In addition, ProfessionalCounseling Staff have been deployed while afunctional Utility Vehicle has been provided toensure movement of victims to hospitals andPolice Stations.

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Shelter for Victims of Domestic Violence…Contd.

Also adequate training facilities on income-generating activities is being provided to ensurethat the inmates are trained to become self-reliant. Presently, an NGO is assisting theMinistry in supervising the Shelter which hasreceived some assistance from UNFPA.

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Honourable Minister of Women Affairs & Social Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina and the UN Under-Secretary General and Executive Director of UN Women,

Ms. Michelle Bachellete, during the latter’s visit to Nigeria in January 2013

VISIT OF UN WOMEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO NIGERIABilateral Relations

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VISIT OF UN WOMEN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO NIGERIA

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, theunassailable commitment of the PresentAdministration on Women Empowerment,Gender Mainstreaming and Affirmative Actionhas indeed received the commendation of theInternational Community, especially the UnitedNations Entity for Women (UN Women).

Bilateral Relations

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Indeed, it was in recognition of Nigeria’s monumentalachievements on women empowerment within theperiod under review that the UN Under SecretaryGeneral and Executive Director of UN Women, Ms.Michelle Bachellete, visited Nigeria in January 2013.

Picture Caption:President GoodluckJonathan in a group photo with Ms. Bachellete and female members of the Cabinet duringher courtesy visit tothe PresidentialVilla, Abuja.

Bilateral Relations

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After sharing experiences withvarious stakeholders andhaving analyzed the giantstrides of the Administration onappointive positions andgender mainstreaming, the UNEnvoy advised Nigerian Womento look beyond the AffirmativeAction target and work towards50-50 by the year 2020.

Bilateral Relations

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The UN Under-Secretary General and Exec. Director of UN Women, Ms. Michelle Bachellete, being presented with a locally produced fabric and pottery items at the

Ushafa Pottery Centre in Bwari Area Council, FCT during her visit to Nigeria in January 2013


MOU with South AfricaDuring the recent State Visit of Mr. President to SouthAfrica in May, I signed on behalf of Nigeria aMemorandum of Understanding (MoU) with SouthAfrica on Bilateral Cooperation on WomenDevelopment, Child Welfare and Support for Personswith Disabilities.

Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs & SocialDevelopment, Hajiya Zainab Maina (L) and SouthAfrica's Minister of Women, Children, and Personswith Disabilities, Lulama Xingwana in South Africa

President GoodluckJonathan, President Jacob Zuma, Nigerian Minister of Women Affairs, Hajiya ZainabMaina and Nigerian Finance Minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iwealaduring President Jonathan’s State Visit to South Africa

Bilateral Relations

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MOU with South AfricaI am pleased to report that Nigeria and South Africawill now work together to address the issues ofWomen political and economic empowerment,Women in Agriculture, Tourism, Oil and Gas, Health,Rural Development and Education, Trade andInvestment.

Nigeria’s Minister of WomenAffairs & Social Dev., HajiyaZainab Maina (L) and SouthAfrica's Minister of Women,Children, and Persons withDisabilities, Lulama Xingwanasigning the MOU in SouthAfrica

Bilateral Relations

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MOU with South AfricaWe will also exchange ideas onvarious legal frameworks onproblem areas such as Traffickingin Children, Sexual Exploitation,Child Health and Nutrition,Juvenile Justice Administration,Adoption, and Orphans andVulnerable Children, especiallythose orphaned by HIV/AIDSpandemic, their care, support andsolution to stigmatization.

Bilateral Relations

Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs &Social Dev., Hajiya Zainab Maina (L) andSouth Africa's Minister of Women,Children, and Persons with Disabilities,Lulama Xingwana after the signing ofthe MOU in South Africa

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MOU with Gambia and NigerBilateral Relations

Similarly, Nigeria has also entered intoother bilateral relationships with Gambiaand Niger on Women Empowerment andChild Development, Protection andSupport. We have agreed to exchangeprogrammes and synergize on issuesrelating to Women, economicdevelopment, Child Rape and Trafficking,Child Labour, Girl-Child Education and Carefor Persons with Disabilities, among others.The MOU are to be signed in October,2013.

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Nigerian Minister of WomenAffairs & Social Development,Hajiya Zainab Maina and herNigerien counterpart Minister,Dr. Maikibi Dandobi


Bilateral Relations

The ECOWAS GenderDevelopment Centre (EGDC),whose mandate is tostrengthen women economicempowerment within theECOWAS member-States, hastrained some selectedNigerian Women intoAgricultural processing andhandcraft within the periodunder review.

EGDC SUPPORT FOR NIGERIAN WOMEN

President of the ECOWAS Commission,His Excellency Kadré Désiré Ouédraogo,and the Honourable Minister of WomenAffairs and Social Development, HajiyaZainab Maina during a visit to theCommission

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Bilateral Relations

The Ministry established partnershipwith the Polish Government onInternational Cooperation andCultural Exchange for theempowerment of Nigerian Womenand provide succor to displacedNigerian Families, families indistress; Persons With Disabilitiesand Other Vulnerable Groups in theNigerian Federation.

INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP

Polish Ambassador to Nigeria, Przemyslaw Niesiolowski during a

courtesy visit to the Minister of Women Affairs and Social

Development, Hajiya Zainab Maina

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Bilateral Relations

This partnership is founded on the idealsof Lady Marie Sklowdowska Curie ofPoland who won the noble prize twice,one in Chemistry and the other inPhysics. It is also premised on the keyareas of the Ministry’s mandate whichcover the capacity building of thesegroups of Nigerians, and themainstreaming of their issues in thecountry’s development process.

INTERNATIONAL PARTNERSHIP

Lady Marie Sklowdowska Curie

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NATIONAL RETREAT ON WOMEN AND DEVELOPMENT, PEACE AND NATIONAL TRANSFORMATION

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As a follow up action to the first National Retreat onWomen and Development, Peace and NationalTransformation held in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State which wasconvened by the Office of the First Lady of the FederalRepublic of Nigeria, my Ministry and the Akwa Ibom StateGovernment, we are now collaborating with Wives ofState Governors (working as peace advocates), StateMinistries of Women Affairs, Women Focused NGOs,Community-Based Organisations, Civil Society Groups andLocal Government Women Development Offices acrossthe country, towards promoting peace, security andnational transformation.

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With strong leadership from Her Excellency, the First Ladyand Chairperson of African First Ladies Peace Mission, weare confident that our efforts will compliment that ofGovernment towards finding lasting solution to thecurrent security challenges in the country.

L-R: VP’s Wife Hajiya AminaNamadi Sambo, First Lady,Dr. Dame Patience GoodluckJonathan, Wife of Gov.Akwa-Ibom State, Mrs.Ekaette Unoma Akpabio andthe Honourable Minister ofWomen Affairs & Social Dev.,Hajiya Zainab Maina at theFirst National WomenRetreat at Uyo, Akwa-IbomState.

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THE NIGERIAN GIRLS MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME

The Ministry, in collaborative effort with its onlyparastatal, the National Centre for WomenDevelopment (NCWD), UN Women, UNFPA, Action Aidand UNICEF in April 2012 during the InternationalWomen’s Day Celebration in Abuja, launched theNigerian Girls Mentorship Programme with the theme“Our Girls, Our Future: Inspire to Aspire”. 86


The programme was designed to mentor selectedyoung girls to enable them have access toknowledge and training on a range of issues.

The pilot scheme at the Federal level has alreadycommenced, and about 30 young girls are beingmentored by some outstanding women in theExecutive and Legislative Arms of Government.This has been adopted by states at the recentlyconcluded National Council on Women Affairs andSocial Development.

THE NIGERIAN GIRLS MENTORSHIP PROGRAMME…Contd.

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Indeed there is no better way to conclude thegiant stride of the Administration on WomenEmpowerment and Affirmative Action within thelast two years than to acknowledge with greatpride, the admission of Nigerian young girls intothe Regular Service Training programmes of theNigerian Defence Academy, NDA

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.

For the first time in the history of our nation, weare witnessing gender mainstreaming in theadmission and training programmes of theprestigious Defence Academy. Nigerian womenare very pleased with Mr. President for hispersonal intervention in actualizing thisunprecedented achievement.

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.

DEVELOPMENT

H DLIC

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.DEVELOPMENTH DL

IC

Within the period under review, the FederalMinistry of Women Affairs and SocialDevelopment wishes to place on record, thefollowing achievements recorded in the area ofChild Development.

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First Lady Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathanand the Hon. Minister of Women Affairs andSocial Development, Hajiya Zainab Mainacutting a cake with children at a party organisedfor them at the Presidential Villa, Abuja as partof activities marking the International Children’sDay Celebration on 27th May, 2013


. DEVELOPMENTH DLIC

Child Rights’ Law

The Ministry in its efforts to carry out the mandate ofproviding an enabling environment for the total well-being and development of the Nigerian Child torealize his/her potentials through the AdvocacyStrategy and Social Mobilization has continued todialogue with the remaining 13 (Thirteen) States yetto pass the Child Rights’ Act into law. Those 23 Statesand the FCT, that have passed the Child Rights’ Actinto law but yet to establish the Family andCustomary Courts, are being encouraged.

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Child Rights’ Law…Contd.

No doubt, the passage of the Child Rights’ Act andthe establishment of Family and CustomaryCourts that will ensure the full implementation ofthe provisions of the Act, will go a long way inaddressing such cases as Child Labour, ChildTrafficking, Street Begging and Hawking byschool-age children, Child and Teenage Rape, andthe recent reported cases of Baby Factories inparts of the country.

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Development of a National Priority Agenda on Children

The Ministry, in collaboration with USAID, Office of theSpecial Assistant to the President on MDGs and otherPartners, has developed a National Priority Agenda(NPA) for Vulnerable Children in Nigeria. This is an 8-year Strategic Frame-work to guide the multi-sectoralimplementation of the objectives and strategies ofVision 20:2020 on the Nigerian Child. This is with aview to holistically address all issues and concernsaffecting the survival, welfare and development of allcategories of Nigerian Children.

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Nigeria Children’s Parliament

Nigeria Children’s Parliament wasconceptualized as a platform wherechildren between the ages of 10 - 18years could express themselves onissues affecting their welfare. TheParliament is also a medium ofinformation flow between thechildren, policy makers andprogramme implementers.

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As part of the centenary celebrations, theParliament held a Special Sitting in May, 2013where members took a look at the present stateof the Nigerian Child and the future of childrenagainst emerging national issues, and passedfar-reaching resolutions which if implementedby stakeholders, will guarantee a better Nigeriafit for children to grow and actualize theirdreams and aspirations.

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Nigeria Children’s Parliament…Contd.

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I am particularly delighted toinform this august gatheringthat activities at theconstruction site of the AbujaNational Children’s ResourceCentre have resumed recently,as a result of the personalintervention of PresidentGoodluck Ebele Jonathan.

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National Children Resource Centre

National Children’s Resource Centre, Abuja

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The project, which has been abandoned since2008 due to lack of budgetary support, is nowback on its feet as a result of the allocation ofsubstantial funding by the Administration to theproject under the current financial year.

Already, the Contractor has moved to the site, and it is expected that the project will be completed and commissioned by the end of next year.

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National Children Resource Centre…Contd

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When completed, the Centre will in addition tohousing the National Children’s Parliament, serveas a one-stop referral point on all issues andconcerns on the Nigerian children.

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National Children Resource Centre…Contd

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Empowerment of Other Vulnerable Groups


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The Ministry has continued to facilitate the mobility of Persons with Disabilities through the provision of various Aids and Appliances. Within the period under review:

• About Six Hundred (600) Persons with Disabilities havebeen assisted to aid their mobility and enhance theirstandard of living;

• A total of 115 ( One Hundred and Fifteen) VisuallyImpaired Persons benefitted from skill acquisitionprogrammes from the Nigerian Farmcraft Centre forthe Blind, Lagos;


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Income Support and Skills Acquisition TrainingProgramme on Soap Making, Poultry/FishFarming and Tie and Dye was held in November2012 for 72 (Seventy Two) Older Persons from 13Local Government Areas of Ebonyi States, and thesum of N50, 000 take-off grant was given to eachof the participant at the end of the trainingprogramme;



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A total of 570 (Five Hundred and Seventy) SocialWorkers have so far graduated with NationalDiploma in Social Work from the Federal Schoolof Social Work, Emene, Enugu State, and 100(One Hundred) student admitted for the sameprogramme in 2013. Another set of 3000 (ThreeThousand) Social Workers have been identifiedthough a survey of Social Development WorkForce to be trained in collaboration with UNICEFand USAID;

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The Ministry trained and empowered 400(Four Hundred) Persons with Disabilities thatcut across various strata of the economy, witha N30,000 take-off grant to each participant;

A group of 20 (Twenty) Disability-FocusedNGOs were empowered with N 500,000 (FiveHundred Thousand Naira) each to conductTrain-the-Trainers programme in theirrespective areas of operations;

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A total of Ten Thousand, Three Hundred andNinety Five (10,395) vulnerable childrennationwide are currently being supported in theareas of Education through the payment ofschool levies, health, provision of psychosocial,shelter, food and nutrition.

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15th Regular National Council on Women Affairs and Social Development

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The Ministry successfully hosted the First Lady, HerExcellency, Dame (Dr) Patience Goodluck Jonathan to the15th General Meeting of the National Council on WomenAffairs and Social Development in Lokoja, Kogi State, onlyfew weeks ago, where 31 States participated. We areconfident that the presence of the First Lady is a clearindication that the Administration will do more forwomen, children and Persons With Disabilities in termsof new policies, programmes and projects.


15th Regular National Council on Women Affairs and Social Development:

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Commemoration of International Days



The Ministry commemorated the followinginternational days as observed in other parts of theworld:

International Women’s Day - 8th March. This year’sevent was held in Lagos from 18th – 19th April, 2013 tocelebrate 100 years of Nigerian Women, and as partof activities marking Nigeria’s Centenary Celebrations.

International Day of the Family – 15th May. A dayset aside to appreciate the role of the family in nationbuilding.

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International Widows Day – 23rd June. A day toidentify with the plights of widows in the society.The Ministry in collaboration with an NGOdistributed 500 empowerment equipment whichincluded sewing and embroidery machines, grindingmachines, coolers, fridges, hair dryers, generators,etc to widows in Abuja;

International Day of the Older Persons - 2ndOctober. A day in honour of our senior citizens andused to raise public awareness on the care of theolder persons in the society. 111



World Peace Day – 24th September. A day adopted tocreate awareness on the need for peace, socialcohesion and conflict resolution - 1,000 children fromthe States participated at the event.

International White Cane Day – 15th October. A dayto identify with the Visually Impaired worldwide.

Day of Persons with Disability– 3rd December. A dayto identify with disabilities. The Theme last year was‘Removing Barriers to create an inclusive andaccessible Society for all.

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Day of the African Child – 16th June. A day approvedby the African Union (AU) to commemorate the tragicevent which took place in Soweto, South Africa in 1976when school children were massacred while agitatingfor their rights. 1,200 children drawn from the statesof the Federation participated at the event;

Universal Day of the Child – 20th November. A dayadopted by the UN General Assembly and ratified byNigeria to celebrate the rights of the child. 300children mobilized for the celebration in Abuja.

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NATIONAL CENTRE FOR WOMEN DEVELOPMENT

(NCWD)


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NATIONAL CENTRE FOR WOMEN DEVELOPMENT (NCWD)


The National Centre for Women Development(NCWD)is the only parastatal of the FederalMinistry of Women Affairs and SocialDevelopment. It is an institution created forgender training and capacity building, research,and documentation. This makes it a cross-sectional and trans-disciplinary instrument forsustainable human development.

During the period under review, the NCWD hasrecorded the following achievements:

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National Gender Data Bank


The National Gender Data Bank (NGDB) wasestablished to generate, store and accessgender specific data as a means of pooling andharmonizing data sources from all sectors of theNigerian economy at all levels into a one stopreferral point.

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Under the second phase of the National GenderData Bank project which has just been completed,the Office of the Senior Special Assistant to thePresident on the Millennium Development Goals(MDGs), funded the collection of Sex Disaggregateddata on the Nigerian Elections from 1999 to date,Production and Publication of Final Report,Website Development and hosting of the NationalGender Data Bank on the internet and Training ofstaff for effective management of the Gender DataBank.

National Gender Data Bank

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The Nigerian Women Hall ofFame is one of the visualforms of documentation andconsists of archival materialson Women Achievers. TheHall of Fame was recentlyremodeled to specifically paytribute to Nigerian Womenthrough the ages in all sectorsand aspects of national life.

Nigerian Women Hall of Fame

First Lady Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan during her Induction to the Nigerian Women Hall of Fame at the National Centre for Women Development, Abuja.

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The Hall portrays role models for younger girlsand the society at large on the unlimitedpotentials of women in the Nigerian Society.

Recently it hosted Ms. Michelle Bachelet, UN-Women Under Secretary and former Presidentof Chile on 11th January 2013, where herphotograph was unveiled.


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But even more significantly, and in specialrecognition of her role for specifically re-awakening the consciousness of the NigerianWomen, Her Excellency the First Lady of theFederal Republic of Nigeria, Dame (Dr.) PatienceGoodluck Jonathan was inducted into theNigerian Women Hall of Fame on 11th June,2013 during which the Hall was officiallyopened to the general public.


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The National Centre for WomenDevelopment, in collaboration withthe Ministry, has trained a totalnumber of 9,210 various VocationalSkills and Income-Generationactivities nationwide that includeInterior and Outdoor Decorations,Cosmetology, Hair Dressing,Fashion Design and Tailoring, CakeMaking, Hospitality and Tourism.

Training and Capacity Building

Women in ICT Vocational

Training at NCWD, Abuja

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Others include Jewelry and Beads Making, Soapand Detergent Making, and ComputerAppreciation and Operation. Interestingly, theCentre has obtained the National Board forTechnical Education(NBTE) accreditation forVocational and ICT programmes

Training and Capacity Building

Jewelry and Beads made by trainees and displayed at the NCWD.

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Though graduation of trainees is aregular feature of the NCWDprogrammes, 11th June, 2013 was amilestone in the Centre as itgraduated two thousand, fourhundred and forty two (2,442) inHospitality and Tourism Studies,Cosmetology and Beauty Therapy,and Fashion Design, Bead &Jewelry Making and Gender & ICTat a Combined GraduationCeremony.

Graduation Ceremony

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First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan receiving an award from

the Minister, Hajiya Maina


The Graduation Ceremony wasattended by the First Lady of theFederal Republic, Dame (Dr.) PatienceJonathan, the wife of the VicePresident, Hajiya Amina NamadiSambo, the Honourable Minister ofWomen Affairs & Social Development,Hajiya Zainab Maina, MFR, FCIA, topgovernment functionaries and otherstakeholders.

Graduation Ceremony

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First Lady Dame Patience Jonathan presenting a certificate to one of the graduating students

Cross Section of dignitaries at the ceremony


The NCWD is currently reactivating WomenDevelopment Centres established in the 774Local Government Areas, for the purpose ofachieving women empowerment and povertyreduction at the grassroots through vocationaltraining and basic literacy.

Reactivation of Women Development Centres

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Under the second phase of the programme:

The Centre has intervened in three LocalGovernments each of four selected States ofAdamawa, Ekiti, Gombe and Oyo in 2013through institutional strengthening andcapacity building of officials of the WomenDevelopment Centres to reposition them forthe task of wealth creation and employmentgeneration.


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The Centre, under a Technical Co-operationwith Japan International CooperationAgency, JICA, trained instructors of theWomen Development Centres and providedtools and equipment as models for the Statesto replicate.


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In addition, the NCWD successfully carried out a NeedsAssessment Exercise under a Women EconomicEmpowerment Project in six Local Government Areasof Maradun, TalataMafara, Bakura, Gumi, Bukkuyumand Anka in Zamfara West Senatorial Zone. TheResearch was hinged on the success story of theNational Centre for Women Development project ofActivation of Women Development Centres whichrecognizes that community development programmesshould be ready to meet changing needs of the targetpopulation to make them truly self-reliant after thecompletion of the project.


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Over the years, the NCWD has been in the forefront ofinnovation in ICT training for women and children inNigeria to link them to the information super highway.The NCWD Information Technology (IT) training targetsbeginners and advanced learners. Additional skilldevelopment training opportunities have beendesigned for learners who want to widen theirknowledge in specific areas. The Center has state-of-the-art video conferencing equipment, with a broaderbandwidth to accommodate video streaming for liveconferencing.

ICT TRAINING

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This service is available to host meetings worldwide,distance learning and many other events requiringpeople to interact without being physically present as agroup. Some of the programmmes carried out include:

National Children’s Conference on ICT for the Nigerian Child:The Annual Children’s Computer Appreciation Programme runs during the long holidays. Between August 2011 and August 2013, a total number of sixty five (65) Children from the States participated in the two weeks long programmes.

ICT TRAINING

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“No Woman Left Out” Computer and Business Skills Training for the Nigerian Woman:

A total of Ninety Three (93) women drawn from the 36States of the Federation and the Federal CapitalTerritory were trained during the first batchprogramme and another batch of 40 will be trained inthe month of July 2013.

ICT TRAINING

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CONCLUSION

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CONCLUSION

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I cannot end thispresentation without expressing our sincere gratitudeto the individuals and institutions that have provided asolid platform of support for us.

I wish to express our deep appreciation to HisExcellency the President of the Federal Republic ofNigeria, Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan for the excellentsupport he has given and continue to give on all issuesrelating to the advancement of women, children andother vulnerable groups in the society.

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CONCLUSIONBut we must also recognize the relentless efforts of theMother of the Nation, Her Excellency the First Lady ofthe Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dame PatienceGoodluck Jonathan for making it all happen forWomen – Her Excellency has indeed been veryinstrumental to the present improved status of womenin Nigeria.

Distinguished Ladies and Gentlemen, I hasten to statethat none of the achievements of the Ministry that Ihave spelt out in this Address would have beenpossible without the co-operation and support of theMedia. 134


CONCLUSION

We remain eternally grateful for your ready support and forbearance at all times, even as we look forward to a continued cordial relationship.

I thank all stakeholders for your partnership as wemake efforts to improve the lives of the generality ofour citizenry by empowering women, persons withdisabilities, the elderly and creating better conditionsthat would enable our children grow to be the trueleaders of this great nation.

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mp2013: federal ministry of women affairs

Documents

nigerian women

number of women

inclusion of women

advancementof women

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