Minister of State for Budget and National Planning, Prince Clem Ikanade Agba, has asserted that violence against women and children has adverse effects on the nation’s economic growth and development.
He said violence hindered their contributions to the country, economically.
The Minister noted that over the years violence against women had become widespread with at least 32.8 percent of every married woman aged between the ages of 15 and 49 years experiencing emotional, physical and sexual violence committed by their partners and husbands.
Speaking in Sokoto State at the high-level monitoring visit on Spotlight Initiative, aimed at supporting Nigeria to build partnership, enhance accountability, encourage participation and ownership in defining a course for creating a conducive environment, Prince Agba said that empowering women, children and youth was one of the key priority areas for Nigeria as encapsulated in the National Development Plan, 2021-2025 to achieve economic growth and development.
He noted that the visit to Sokoto was to take stock of achievements and challenges of the programme to strengthen ownership and sustainability mechanisms for the interventions by providing actionable recommendations for improved performance and effective utilization of resources in the project implementation.
He emphasised that the initiative supported eradication of violence against women and children, who were the most vulnerable population to live a life free from violence and harmful practice.
“The present administration places a high premium on the issue of women and children as almost a half of the entire population are currently under age of 15, while one in three of Nigeria’s whole population lives below poverty line, with women being mostly affected,” he disclosed.
He said the high percentage of violence against women necessitated the Spotlight Initiative by the Federal Government, United Nations comprising five agencies namely UNICEF, UN Women, UNFPA, UNDP and UNESCO in collaboration with European Union to curb the menace.
“There is no gainsaying that the activities of the United Nations in Nigeria are cardinal to the economy of our great country, as it serves a tool for economic development, particularly in the area of human capital development, poverty reduction, wealth creation, improving welfare and standard of living.
“To this end, I am optimistic that building and sustaining partnership with the United Nations will assist Nigeria in achieving Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2063,” he posited.
He lauded the government and people of Sokoto State for their exemplary support leading to the domestication of the State Child Protection Law and Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law (VAPP).
“This giant stride, is by no mean feat, based on the long standing bilateral development cooperation with the United Nations premised on mutual trust, respect and understanding in the past decades.
“As we are all aware, Government alone cannot solve the problems confronting our dear nation due mainly to the dwindling revenue, aftermath of the impact of pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine war amongst others.
“Consequently, we need to leverage the available opportunity provided by our Development Partners in ensuring that no one is left behind in the well-being of the vulnerable population.”
He urged the state government to set necessary machinery in motion to ensure the sustainability of the interventions by creating enabling environment and budget line for supporting interventions to eradicate violence against women and children, particularly most vulnerable to live a life free from violence and harmful practice.
“Also, the state government needs to provide implementation guidelines for successful implementation of the State Child Protection Law and Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law (VAPP),” he stated.
The minister applauded the United Nations and European Union for their support.
“Let me take this opportunity to reassure you that the Nigerian Government acknowledges the need to sustain the interventions to eradicate violence against women, children and vulnerable groups and will mobilize resources.
“In this regard, I wish to inform that the Year 2023 budget has captured some gender issues and other related concerns.
“Specifically, following our trip to Adamawa where we have the only DNA Lab for GBV in West Africa, I had promised to make budgetary provision for one more lab.
“I am glad to inform his Excellency that the 2023 Budget submitted to NASS by HE President has provision for two Labs. One in Abuja and the other in Lagos. We all need to make these budgetary commitments in order to sustain the gains we have made,” he explained.
Stay ahead with the latest updates! Join The ConclaveNG on WhatsApp and Telegram for real-time news alerts, breaking stories, and exclusive content delivered straight to your phone. Don’t miss a headline — subscribe now!
