Nigeria Commends EU for €25 Million Support to Eradicate Gender-based Violence

Florence Adidi, Abuja.

Last updated Dec 2, 2023

Nigeria has commended the European Union (EU) for its support in the fight against gender-based violence in the country, as twenty-five million euros (€25,000,000) has been allocated to support the cause.

The Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, made this known while delivering a goodwill message at the handover ceremony of the Spotlight Initiative Nigeria country programme held in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.

The minister, who was represented by the Director, International Corporation Department, Dr. Lanre Adekanye, revealed that the Spotlight Initiative in Nigeria had achieved significant milestones, with their success story hinged on the commitment of stakeholders, partners and the education on all kinds of violence against women and girls.

He further assured that “the ministry would leave no stone unturned in supporting similar programmes aimed at sustaining the outcomes and impact of the Spotlight Initiative in Nigeria, as women and girls are agents of development and change in any country.”

In his remarks, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Matthias Schmale, expressed his pleasure at the federal government, civil society groups, the women’s movement, and youth organizations for their leadership and commitment to building a world free from violence against women and girls.

He revealed that “the initiative was named ‘spotlight’ because it focused its attention on the issue of gender-based violence, and tangible results had been attained since its inception in 2019”.

https://twitter.com/EUinNigeria/status/1729762233129865530?t=O2JvntQg9vawQ8JJJ9acxA&s=19

Mr Schmale averred that with the initiative coming to a close, it was important to ensure that commitments made were secured for continued impacts.

He disclosed that the Spotlight Initiative had contributed in changing laws and policies; enabled almost 16,500 women and girls to receive vital services at its centres; and made allies with traditional rulers and religious leaders.

For her part, the European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, H.E Amb. Samuela Isopi, said that in Nigeria, the programme assessed “a new holistic approach that brought all actors together and allowed them to achieve critical results”.

She disclosed that almost all states in Nigeria had passed the Child’s Right Act, making it the fastest bill to be passed at the national level in the history of Nigeria.

She, therefore, assured that the EU would remain fully committed to the rule of law and anti-corruption programme implementation.

It would also continue to prioritize women’s rights and inclusion across sectors, including girls’ education, maternal health, women’s economic empowerment, and political representation.

EU Ambassador to Nigeria GENDER BASED VIOLENCE Gender Based Violence GBV Girl-child Girls & Women H.E Amb. Samuela Isopi Matthias Schmale Spotlight Initiative Nigeria