A non governmental organization, Gender Strategy Advancement (GSA) has committed to ensure that the plight and voices of the needy community members are heard by the government and alleviate their needs.
The Executive Director, GSAI, Ms. Adora Onyechere made the commitment to the organization’s visibility study on the Old and New Karu community, in Nasarawa State and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, Abuja.
Onyechere, represented by the Communication Officer, Grace Udei said the Organisation’s presence in the community was to gather necessary information and data that would guide decisions and actions needed to impact women and those with disabilities in those communities.
Onyechere said; “We are here on behalf of GSAI, a women-led organization saddled with the responsibility of promoting gender accountability, driving policy interventions for improving the plights of women, enhancing participation and inclusion of women, girls, and persons with disabilities in Nigeria and Africa, have come here to find out the areas where you need intervention, especially women, girls, and people with disabilities. We want to find out how we can help, how we can come in to function in the place where you are finding it difficult as a community, even the health sector, agriculture anywhere, and render help. Also to find out how women were able participate in leadership roles in the community, how elections have been beneficial to the community and if government initiated opportunities for women have been executed and women carried along”.
The group enjoined the government to make a deliberate effort to ensure that every human has a right to exist and to benefit from the good of the land, regardless of gender and class.
She explained that the essence of the programme was to help amplify their voices for inclusion, provide them with social amenities as well as bridge skills gap needed to alleviate poverty such as women empowerment, skill acquisition, health facilities and help children have access to school.
“Providing equal opportunities and social services for both females and males is key to advancing the economic and social development of the country and for the promotion of democratic values. Gender is an important cross-cutting theme that must be integrated within the strategic planning and programmatic design processes.”
Speaking on behalf of people with disabilities, Mr. Michael Gideon solicited for support from GSAI, to come to their aid by helping to amplify their voices to the necessary authorities for better environment that is accessible by all including those with disabilities.
Gideon said; “For women and people with disabilities to be able to talk it out that I want to aspire for leadership position, even when you want to, they will tell you the form is one million naira. It is not an easy thing our women are politically enlightened , they participate in elections, and once it is election time our women come out en mass to vote. That is to tell you that they are fully aware of the need to vote.We have challenges limiting them, such challenges are cultural barriers, some few don’t want their women to mingle due to their cultural religious, and financial backgrounds. We have a lot of these issues against our women in terms of participation. When it comes to appointments that is where you should help us talk to the authorities. The community leaders are doing their best to appeal to authorities to see the need, a lot of educated women amongst young women who are well trained but have no appointments. So you can amplify our voices to the authorities and let them look towards the direction of our women and people with disabilities. They should create enabling environment for us in schools, hospitals, churches and mosque enable our free movement and accessibility”.
The Women Leader Old Karu community Mrs. Jumai Adamu, lamented the poor condition of living of the community members.
She said; “As rural women, we receive harsh treatment from health officials like nurses and midwifery at primary health centres as well as in schools. The government-owned primary health centres charge high bills as if they were privately owned hospitals. For example, when asked to buy things for delivery, after buying one is expected to pay less but the reverse is the case, women find themselves still paying huge amounts of money for delivery and other treatments. When it comes to electricity, we pay high bills without even seeing the light, but how can we cope seeing that most of us are market women still struggling to survive. Also during elections most of these politicians make us vote for them, and after getting what they want they abandon us without fulfilling their promises. Our children are finding it difficult to go to schools especially the orphans due to high school fees. All we ask is to empower us, as well as assisting our children to go to school, especially the orphans.”
The District Head Karu, Mr. Iko Bawa, who explained the challenges of the community and the way forward said the Primary health centres in the community lack good amenities, good infrastructure in schools.
She said; “These make it difficult for the vulnerable to access. If you look at our setting here in karu, it is a village but we have the opportunity of being part of Abuja. The truth about us here is that most of the women are market women with little or no capital, all that they need is empowerment, if they are empowered with capital to boost their business, they will go a long way. In terms of government facilities, the government is trying, but government cannot do it alone.”
Speaking on behalf of the community, the District Head New Karu, Mr. Danladi Cheshi commended the role the advocacy stakeholders play in upholding the societylive a better life.
Cheshi said; “Here in New Karu, our women are allowed and encouraged to participate in leadership positions. We don’t play with people with disabilities, we take care of all that concerns them. Therefore there is a need to assist people with disabilities with finance, skill acquisition, and other necessary empowerment programmes.”
GSAI was further urged not only to take requests but fulfill their promise.
After the feasibility study, it was discovered that both communities need better roads, improved health, and school facilities that accommodate all people. They also need scholarships for the less privileged to further their education, more empowerment and skill acquisition should be provided.
The Government was urged to design programmes that include and accommodate all in all areas such as education, health, political participation, and economic empowerment.
Mercy Chukwudiebere
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