By Fortune Abang
Abuja, – ECOWAS has said that the establishment of 50 Million Women Speak Platform (50MWSP) project will help to promote women empowerment in Nigeria and the West African sub-region.
Mrs Siga Jagne, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Social Affairs and Gender, said this in her address at the inauguration of the Nigerian 50MWSP team installation team workshop on Thursday in Abuja.
Mrs Siga Jagne, the ECOWAS Commissioner for Social Affairs and Gender
The event was organised by Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development in collaboration with ECOWAS, designed to create network for women entrepreneurs in Africa.
Jagne said that the project, which would last between three to five years, would strengthen regional integration and visibility toward gender growth and women advancement in Nigeria.
According to her, the platform will make Nigeria the country where the rights of women and girls are respected and also give them easy access to create and finance their businesses.
The commissioner said “this project is in line with the ECOWAS Gender Programme reinforced in 2005 by the Authority of Heads of States and Government through adoption of the gender policy document.
“The project is part of the framework of article 15 of chapter 5 of the additional Act on Equal Rights for Women and Men for sustainable development in the ECOWAS area.
“The Act called on member states to adopt all legislative and regulatory measures to ensure women’s equal access to economic and gainful opportunities.
“This is in the areas of trade and entrepreneurship, including access to public procurement and taking into account their contribution in formal and informal sectors.
“This initiative therefore brings together all of our efforts for the empowerment of women in West Africa and in this beautiful country.”
She urged participants to coordinate the collection and transmission of data and information that could help to encourage women and girls to engage meaningfully in businesses in Nigeria.
She advised the participants to make the platform their main tool for networking and accessing local, national and continental funding opportunities.
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Aisha Alhassan, said that the 50MWSP was
in line with the ministry’s mandate on reduction of poverty and empowerment of women.
Alhassan, who was represented by Mrs Ifeoma Anagbogu, the Permanent Secretary in the ministry,
said that the project was important to help reduce gender gaps and promote empowerment through skills acquisition.
The minister, who inaugurated the project, said that women formed major chunk of the nation’s population, therefore the need for the project to enhance efforts to mobilise women and girls.
According to her, women are traders and farmers who must be empowered to be able to sell and market their produce.
She said that the ministry would partner with other stakeholders and evolve measures to monitor and also supervise the project to ensure effective implementation.
Highpoint of the event was the presentation of the project and adoption of three months roadmap.