ActionAid seeks ‘practical inclusion’ of rural women in govt programs

The ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has called practical inclusion of rural women in government programmes to ensure the successes of such programme and for even economic development. The AAN Women’s Right Manager Nkechi Ilohi-Omekedo made the call yesterday in Abuja at a special sensitization rally tagged “Restructuring: Women Rising on the State of the Nation”. The […]

The ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) has called practical inclusion of rural women in government programmes to ensure the successes of such programme and for even economic development.

The AAN Women’s Right Manager Nkechi Ilohi-Omekedo made the call yesterday in Abuja at a special sensitization rally tagged “Restructuring: Women Rising on the State of the Nation”.

The women displayed banners and placards bearing inscriptions like “The time is now to restructure women into the structure”, “Educating girl is the basic of developed economy”, “End the neglect: Rural women deserve access to social amenities” and “Gender equality is not a woman issue, its human issues” among others.

According to her the debate around restructuring of Nigeria had been going on and the voices of women had not been heard as expected, hence the need to look at the plight of women from the grassroots to pick up their voices and ensure their active participation.

“We have been involved in many programmes for rural women and have also collaborated with women at the grassroots to raise their consciousness to understanding issues surrounding the restructuring of the country. There are many civil society organisations that for many years had been canvassing for women inclusion in policy making of the country as this would greatly yield significant gains for the country,” she said.

She therefore urged the Federal Government to look into the plight of women especially those in the rural communities by prioritizing their needs especially that they constitute the largest number of small scale farmers in the country.

Also, the Policy Advocacy and Campaign Manager of AAN Mr Tunde Aremu said the organisation had engaged with the MDAs on issues that affects women directly.

He said the place of women cannot be replaced in articulating only their demands but that they should be empowered while building their capacities to be able to do the advocacy on their own.

Participating women leaders at the rally including Hajiya Hajara Abubakar from Dakwa Community and Hajiya Hannatu Adamu from Tunganasara urged the government to provide basic amenities like water, good road network, schools, electricity and healthcare system in the various communities.