UN, FG to work closely to address issues affecting women, children

The United Nations Office in Nigeria, has promised to partner with the Federal Government on strategies to tackle issues affecting women and children across the country.

A UN team led by the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Mr Matthias Schmale made the promise in Abuja during a courtesy visit to the First Lady, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu in her office.

Schmale said the UN would support President Bola Tinubu’s in his quest to add value to the Nigerian economic and lives of Nigerians.

She told the first lady that they would offer supports in any area to assist and put plans together to ensure that women were adequately represented in public offices.

“One issue is the role of women in public life and we are very interested in it just like you do.

“We will offer our support significantly in increasing the number of women in the public positions in the country.

“We understand that President Bola Tinubu has made the economy of the nation an important one and we know that women play a key role in the economy considering food security as a national emergency.

“We are ready to explore what more we can do to support the government and your excellence in increasing the role of women in the economy and to revitalise the economy.

Schmale , added that the UN would support the country in ensuring that issues like polio, out-of-school children, child labour and violent against women were reduced.

“On the issue of violence, former president Muhammadu Buhari had in 3-years ago declared violence against women and children a national emergency; again we are offering support to all UN family in overcoming this emergency.

“Finally, the issue of school children out of learning environment with over 15million children under the age of 14 in child labour in Nigeria, this obviously needs attention.

The first lady in her response said her office is ready to accept the UN offer, saying all what the UN representatives mentioned were of importance to her.

She said her national programme, Renewed Hope Initiative is also taking all the issues into cognizance, however, she advised women stop looking down on themselves.

“I do understand women and what the barriers are but it is not only in Nigeria and the women who have to decide to join in such race do have a lot of huddles.

“We want more women in leadership roles especially in elective positions, I want to see more women in the decision making positions like the legislative arms because if laws are not changed, things will remain the same.

“However, are the women ready to scarify? We are the ones that need to stand to help ourselves.

The first lady said education is very vital adding that she is channeling the RHI to also priotise education for people.

“I don’t believe that a woman cannot get all that she wants once she is educated but our focus on education is for both boys and girls and even less privileged women.

On the UN delegation were Ms Beatrice Eyong, UN Women representatives; Chansa Kapaya UN High Commissioner for Refugees; and Ms Vanessa Phala, representing the International Labour Organisation.

Others are UNICEF representives, Ms Christiana Munduate, UNAIDS representative, Mr Leo Zekeng and Ms Thembekile Dube-Ncube, Strategic and Team Leader, Office of UN resident Coordinator, Nigeria.