By Correspondent in Lokoja
As part of measures to ensure that more women are empowered for self-sustenance and as well reduce joblessness, experts have made a case for citizens engagement for successful women’s economic empowerment and development.
An expert in Agriculture Extension and Forestry from the University of Ibadan, Professor Mohammed Kuta Yahaya,made the call at a two-day Capacity Training for Women Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) on Advocacy and Communication in Minna.
Yahaya told participants at the workshop, organized by the development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) under the Advancing Women Economic Development in Nigeria (PAWED), that engagement of more women was part of strategy for growth and inclusion in developmental goals.
Speaking against the backdrop of the $100 million earmarked as intervention fund from the World Bank for the development of women, Yahaya said Nigerian women had proved to be capable of doing a lot of things but lacked funds to achieve set objectives.
He said the advocacy Project, designed to empower women in eighteen local government areas (3 LGAs each) from six states; Niger, Abia, Edo, Kebbi, Taraba and Ogun, was key to the development of women and the country in general.
Kuta former, who was the Secretary to the Niger state Government, however, enjoined the CSOs to build their capacities in advocacy before engaging in promoting desired change in the society.
Some of the CSOs, drawn from Open Government Partnership (OGP) and the Federation of Muslim Womens Association in Nigeria (FOMWAN), in their respective response, called for inclusive engagement as a veritable strategy to develop the Nigerian women.
The Co-chairman, OGP in Niger state, Mr. Samuel Yisa, said there was the urgent need for the relevant agencies to engage in building women capacity for the speedy development of all segments of the Nigerian society.
The Niger State chairperson of FOMWAN, Hajia Awal Abdullahi, said the best decision any country could take should to empower its women socio-economically, adding that the training would afford them opportunities for new strategies toward achieving their desired goals.
