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The Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has announced that no programme held under Nigeria’s ministry should be without a provision for women’s empowerment.
She said this during the National Validation Workshop for the 3rd National Action Plan (NAP) on Women, Peace, and Security on August 29, 2024. The Ministry of Women’s Affairs, in partnership with the Norwegian Embassy and UN Women, held the workshop.
“No programme should be held without incorporating women’s empowerment,” Ms Kennedy-Ohanenye told stakeholders at the gathering, including UN Women’s Country Representative to Nigeria Beatrice Eyong.
Citing the reasons for her directive, the minister emphasised that the federal government provides over N100 million for the Ministry of Women’s Affairs, mostly spent on organising programmes rather than being diverted to initiatives that would directly improve women’s lives.
“For a while, this is what we keep organising. A few weeks ago there was a hunger protest. Women are not empowered, and children are suffering. Nigerians are suffering but we waste money on frivolous things that don’t make sense.
“We have changed the work plan. We have changed it in a way that women will benefit. They give money to the ministries, and it is used for travel and programmes. There is nothing that would impact the nation, but if you hear the amount of money the government gives out to the ministries, you will be shocked.
“You can’t bring 100 and something million and use it to do programmes. I said cut it into two. Use half and empower the women and use the other half to do any programme you want to use it to do,” Ms Kennedy-Ohanenye said.
She added that prioritising women’s empowerment will have a ripple effect in society, mitigating societal problems such as out-of-school children, and child brides, thereby creating a more secure and peaceful nation, which is the essence of the programme being organised.
“When we talk about peace and security, most times we do more of policies. If you come to my office you will see piled up of policies without any action or achievement. Na paper we go chop? The situations of things in the country require action to solve our problems.
“If you talk about peace and security, it will work when women are empowered. When you empower a woman, you have empowered 20 people. When a woman is empowered, it goes down to the children, and when they are able to do these things (pay for school fees), you have eliminated out-of-school children which is part of our problem with security and child marriages.”
Ms Kennedy-Ohanenye’s comments have sparked public controversy with some agreeing to her submission and others viewing her as overbearing and disruptive.
“This is the kind of leadership we need in this country,” Ibrahim Hussaini (@siribroness) said. “Kudos to her.”
Kabir Illah (@LordMufeey) comments, “She messed up big time two months ago when the House of Representatives Committee on Women’s Affairs invited her. I hope she has changed for better and for good.”
‘That’s it. Millions upon millions are being spent on programmes with no impact. They will just introduce a program, allocate millions to it, gather people, eat and make effortless speeches and agendas. Then everyone returns to their destination with no action or impacts. Enough,’ Data Guru said.
Preempting that her action would be controversial, Ms Kennedy-Ohanenye said she believes programmes were conducted without her knowledge because of her insistence that the budget for programmes should be split in half between conducting workshops and providing empowerment for women. She added that she would disrupt events and embarrass anyone who organises programmes without her approval, irrespective of public opinion, as long as women are empowered.
“Many people may misunderstand me, but I am ready to be misunderstood, I am ready to be tortured. Let them call me names, troublemaker, mad woman. I am ready to take it. But you see that brick wall? I am ready to break it,” the Minister of Women Affairs said.
