Women affairs minister pledges support for National Council of Women Societies

From Juliana Taiwo-Obalonye, Abuja

Minister of Women Affairs Imaan Suleiman-Ibrahim has commended the National Council of Women Societies (NCWS) for being a vital partner of the Ministry in championing the rights, welfare and empowerment of women across the country.

This is even as she assured of her unwavering support in tackling the challenges faced by women and girls in Nigeria.

According to a statement issued by Chief Information and Public Relations Officer in the ministry, Chinwe Owen Udouwem, the minister gave the assurance while receiving the Council’s delegation who paid her a courtesy visit recently, applauding the body for consistently demonstrating commitment in the discharge of their mandate by addressing the challenges faced by the gender, amplifying the voices of Nigerian women and advancing their status in society.

Suleiman-Ibrahim further assured that the Ministry remains committed to enabling and strengthening the activities of the NCWS by providing it with the necessary guidance, technical support and advocacy for gender equality, while encouraging them to continue being active and united in the face of fierce challenges.

The Minister seized the opportunity to commiserate with the Council on the demise of their elected President, Hajia Lami Lau, who passed on some months ago.

She urged the delegation not to be distracted from the vision and mandate.

“Together, we share a vision of building an inclusive and equitable society where women and girls are empowered to thrive and contribute meaningfully to national development”, Suleiman said.

The Ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Maryam Kashinro, expressed confidence in the Council’s leadership and admonished them to keep up the good work.

She assured of the Ministry’s willingness to collaborate with them in order to move Nigerian women forward.

Earlier in her opening remarks, the leader of the delegation, Acting National President, National Council of Women Societies (NCWS), Geraldine Etuk, reiterated that NCWS is the umbrella organisation for women groups in Nigeria.

“We champion the rights and well-being of women across Nigeria, fostering inclusivity, equity, and progress.”

“Our mission is to advocate for the social, economic, and political empowerment of Nigerian women, providing a platform for their voices and advancing education, health and welfare”, she said.

Etuk stressed that the organisation’s objective aligns with the Ministry’s goals, hence she stressed the need for meaningful collaborations, noting that it will drive meaningful change.

While outlining the Societies’ initiatives which need the Ministry’s collaboration, she advocated for the return of NCWS budget lines both at the Federal, State and Local Government levels for the smooth running of the Council.