By Ramatu Garba
The Kano State Ministry of Women Affairs, Children and Disable, in collaboration with Development Research and Projects Centre(DRPC) have engage stakeholders on domestication of National WEE policy and Action Plan in the state.
The DRPC Senior Program Associate, Umar Ahmad-Umar, said the Stakeholders Engagement with private sector was aimed to review and domesticate policy for Kano.
“We brought together stakeholders from the private sector to look at the National Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Policy and Action Plan to provide their input on how best it can be reviewed,adopted and domesticated.
“We earlier had pre engagement with other Stakeholders such as citizens, CSOs, traditional and religious leaders” he said
Also,the Gender Officer, Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund(AECF), Hajiya Hauwa Umar, said the domestication of WEE Policy is very important for initiative to be sustainable.
She said the policy domestication would address barriers women are facing especially agric business and other trades, reduce poverty amongst women and also scale up their businesses.
“AECF is a development initiative funded by Global Affairs Canada, with a program in Kano called Investing in Women in Nigeria.
“We give grants to women owned or led businesses that are into agric business” Umar said
The State Commissioner, Ministry for Women, Children and Disabled, Hajiya Aisha Lawan-Saji, said the domestication of WEE Policy in the State is critical and timely being the fact that the high cost of living facing the entire nation places women to so many forms of abuse.
“Domestic violence and neglect which calls for urgent intervention through policy review and formulations”
Represented by the Ministry’s Director, Hajiya Bilkisu Jibrin, said addressing barriers that prevent women from accessing employment and other financial opportunities in the state can not be actualised without the support of the private sector.
The Commissioner stress the need of uplifting the status of women economically as they are the most vulnerable.
“This effort which is being technically supported by DRCP & AECF is in tandem with the current administration initiatives under the leadership of Gov. Abba
Kabir-Yusuf, of improving the well-being of vulnerable women through various empowerment programs.
“The ministry has empowered 4,028 Women across 44 LGAs in 2024. The government has also commenced monthly empowerment of 5,200 women and empowered 2, 000 PWDs”
She commended DRCP and AECF for complementing the State government’s effort in women empowerment programs, particularly on domestication process as the document will guide Government to implement programs that could bridge the gap in accessing economic opportunities by women.
Prof Bala Kofar-Mata, presented a paper titled “Building Sustainable Partnership for Domestication of National WEE Policy and Action Plan in Kano State”.
The Stakeholders Engagement/Building Partnership with Private Sector for Domestication of National WEE Policy and Action Plan in Kano State was organized by Kano State in collaboration with DRPC and AECF.
