Making investment in women a top priority

AS we celebrate the International Women’s Day, there are needs to take practical steps to implement a robust agenda that would address the inequality gap and lack of inclusivity affecting women in Nigeria. This year’s event should go beyond lip service or the ceremonious affinity associated with the event and concrete actions should be taken to fully invest in Women.

Investment in women should be made a top priority because no society can thrive in a scale of balance if a major population that makes up the society ( such as women) is less empowered.

It is also common knowledge that the determination of functional societies with records of economic and social developments as recorded in advanced countries are found in domains with positive indicators of women empowerment. Currently, Nigerian women have been excluded in so many ways; most of which includes; poor enrollment level of females in schools.

Statistics shows that the number of female enrollments in most states especially in northern Nigeria compared to their male counterparts is abysmally low. Also, the governance indicators on political inclusion of women is unfavorably inbalanced. Despite the affirmative action to offer Women 35 per cent of political inclusion, a report published by premium times reveals that 10th assembly has only three women out of 109 senators and 17 women out of 390 House of Reps’ members which is below five per cent for both chambers.

On the part of the executive, the women represented in the cabinet of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu represent just 18.75 per cent which is far less than the required 35 per cent affirmative action. Coupled with this fact is the health and wellbeing of Nigerian women, the maternal mortality rate of pregnant and nursing mothers has remained at an all- time low, putting women at risk of child bearing.

Women in the informal sector have also suffered exclusion from government programmes and policies despite the economic hardship experienced in Nigeria, most women in Nigeria are compelled to struggle for daily survival to support the running of the home. The market women who sell vegetables, tomatoes and other household items have been totally excluded from any form of social security from the government, with major exclusion experienced in the health insurance sector.

The exclusion of women in the informal sector has led them to resort to alternative medical treatments that endangers their life and well- being. Having highlighted a few of the challenges, it is necessary that the government pay attention to the implementation of its policies on women inclusion. One of the major policies that addresses the above concern, which requires full implementation, is the National Gender Policy 2021- 2026. Some key objectives of the policy aim to explore and fully harness women’s human capital assets as a growth driver for national development through Women’s economic empowerment.

Advance women’s participation and representation in leadership and governance as well as support Women and Girl’s education, lifelong health, survival and sustainable development.

Also, the ministerial agenda for women empowerment and societal transformation produced by the ministry of Women affairs was strategically designed to uplift communities through Women empowerment, education, and law enforcement. To address the prevalence of illiteracy and out- ofschool children, the policy proposes to implement a comprehensive education initiative focused on skill acquisition and vocational education.

The implementation of this agenda is an investment priority that should benefit young Girls and women.

The agenda also plans to liaise with NGOS to organise existing women cooperative societies into women affinity groups and provision of essential processing machines and equipment to empower women in various sectors.

Budgetary allocations should prioritise this across sectors. Also, government monetary and fiscal policies should mainstream Women for financial inclusion. In addition, Women should have access to soft loans to enable them to upscale their business and continue to support their families. To reduce maternal mortality, Pregnant women should be accorded free health insurance as obtained in S. 25 of the National Health Insurance Authority Act.

Efforts should be made to provide social security in the form of affordable and qualitative health insurance as a top priority for Women. To achieve this, women in the informal sector should be grouped in a formalised structure according to their line of occupation and registered to access health insurance. For instance, association of Women farmers can be registered under one health insurance umbrella, the same goes for market women association, small scale women etc. This would guarantee their productivity and increase their life expectancy. The plans contained in the various government policy agenda should be costed and implemented accordingly.

In conclusion, women should not be left out of the political space, governments at all levels must show strong commitment in the inclusion of women in all facets of governance by ensuring that the affirmative action on Women serves as a strong basis for future appointments and elective positions in the country.