The President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on Thursday in Abuja, said his government had delivered on its promises to Nigerians, especially women, to reduce poverty and build a sustainable economy.
However, he urged the Central Bank of Nigeria to heed concerns raised by the Special Ad-hoc Committee on the Cashless Policy and Naira Swap in the lower chamber of the national assembly.
According to a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Femi Adesina, Buhari said this at the launch of Advisory Council, Adolescent Girls’ Initiative for Learning and Empowerment Project and National Women’s Economic Empowerment Policy Dialogue.
The statement is titled ‘President Buhari says women, girls remain integral to development, launches high-level advisory council on support.’
While calling for upscaling of efforts for more inclusion of women in development policies and projects, he said the three initiatives will target reduction of poverty, and building of a sustainable economy.
“This is what we promised to all Nigerians – including our women and girls when our party, the All Progressives Congress, was elected in 2015.
“I am proud to say that our government has delivered over the past eight years,” Buhari said.
He noted that the well-being of women and girls remain a pivotal indicator of how well any Nation is doing in driving her developmental plans.
The President also expressed joy over the progress made to emphasise the needs of Nigerian women and girls into national economic planning, policy development, public programming, and public financial management.
However, he acknowledged gaps associated with harnessing the available resources of government, the innovation and efficiency of the private sector, and the technical expertise of the country’s social and development sector partners to drive women’s and girls’ empowerment outcomes.
The President noted that coordination had remained a key gap in the efforts to improve livelihoods and democratise opportunities for women and girls.
He said, “It is expected that the High-Level Advisory Council on Nigeria’s Support for Women and Girls, which I am very proud to inaugurate today, therefore, comes as an answered prayer to bridge this identified gap.”
He challenged the council to implement its mandate to drive all round collaboration and action towards achieving Sustainable Development Goal 5: Gender Equality between now and 2030.
Buhari also commended the Minister of Women’s Affairs, Pauline Tallen, the Minister of Finance, Budget, and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed and Minister of Education, Adamu Adamu, for exemplifying collaboration and innovation in service delivery.
He also thanked private and social sector partners, especially the Council’s private sector Co-Chairs for being involved in improving the lives of Nigerian women and girls.
The President noted that there can be no true national development without the empowerment of women and girls, urging all stakeholders to redouble efforts in the push for gender equity and equality.
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