Follow Us on Google
From Okwe Obi, Abuja
minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has disclosed that President Bola Tinubu will, on March 7, inaugurate a transparency and integrity brigade to monitor and ensure the safety of women and children against verbal and physical abuse.
She stated this at a conference for commissioners of state ministries of women affairs organised by the Rule of Law and Anti-Corruption (RoLAC), supported by the European Union and International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA) yesterday in Abuja.
The theme of the event was “Critical Issues and Opportunities for Enhancing Rights, Protection and Justice for Women, Children and Persons with Disabilities.”
Also, the minister, who lamented the low budgetary allocation to the women affairs ministry in the 2024 appropriation bill, assured that the present administration would not take issues concerning women for granted.
According to her, the women E-Market Portal would link up manufacturers, buyers, sellers and others in the marketing chain with a view to encouraging entrepreneurship, skill acquisition and self-reliance.
“So, we are putting up measures and will be bringing on board the integrity brigade of which all commissioners for women affairs and traditional rulers are part of.
“These are some of the ways we want to save Nigeria. We cannot do this alone and women Affairs ministry cannot do this alone.
“We are asking for Nigerians to volunteer and join what we call integrity brigade. With this brigade, we will be able to fish out things that belong to women and children who are over 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population. If we take care of their problems, automatically, the nation will do well.
“On March 7, 2024, the president will be unveiling the integrity brigade, mobile courts, E-market portal for women and so many other things.
“After March 7, no more business as usual, you will see action. Nobody will leave a stone unturned. If you tamper with any woman or child, you will get the result. We are equally telling the women not to look for trouble because if they look for trouble they will not get support.”
In addition, the minister assured Nigerians that youths, women, vulnerable persons with disabilities would be strongly involved in all programmes of government.
“We are also including Persons With Disabilities. I don’t discriminate and the president also does not discriminate. Let them check out the actions I and the commissioners of women affairs are taking, they will understand that this is not the Nigeria they used to know.
“Right now, even for you to adopt a Nigerian child, you must provide us with so many things and if you don’t keep in touch with us to know how a Nigerian child is faring, we will declare you wanted.
“So let the PWDs be rest assured that they will be treated like human beings. They’ve always been treated badly but now, the
