Kaduna State Committed To Promoting Gender Equality
Kaduna State Government gives assurance of it’s commitment to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in all aspects of its developmental agenda.
Deputy Governor, Dr Hadiza Balarabe stated this at the Private Sector Forum on Gender Responsive Supply Chains in Kaduna State, organised by the UN Women in collaboration with African Development Bank (AfDB) and Zamani Foundation.
According to the Deputy Governor, the administration of Senator Uba Sani believes that empowering women is not only a matter of right, but also a good economic strategy that can boost growth, reduce poverty, and enhance social cohesion.
“Our administration, led by Governor Uba Sani shares the same belief with UN women, African Development Bank and Zamani Foundation that gender responsive procurement can have a positive domino effect in the value chain through inclusive sourcing and supplier diversity,” Dr Balarabe mentioned.
Access procurement opportunities
She said the private sector forum which focused on Gender Responsive Supply Chains, and is part of UN Women program on Women Economic Empowerment through affirmative Procurement in West Africa.
Dr Balarabe further stated that it also supports women economic empowerment, through policy reforms, public sector institutional strengthening, and capacity building of women-owned/women-led businesses to access procurement opportunities in some countries in West Africa including Nigeria.
She affirmed the continued support of the State government in promoting women empowerment through policies, programmes, legislations, and other activities that would ensure that women’s lots are improved.
Increasing support
She mentioned that on the 28th of October 2022, Kaduna State government, in collaboration with UN Women and the Norwegian Government, inaugurated three programmes aimed at increasing support for gender equality and women empowerment in the State.
“The programmes focused on women, peace, and security, advancement of women’s participation in politics and affirmative procurement in Nigeria, and the HeForShe campaign in the State.
“I want to reiterate the remark I made that day thus: “If we want to make progress as a country, we must liberate half of our population which consists
of women, from being undermined, underutilized and de-humanized.”
“That is why we are very interested in the AfDB-UN Women program titled “Women Economic Empowerment through Affirmative Procurement in West Africa”. We believe that this program can make a significant difference in the lives of many women entrepreneurs and workers in Kaduna state and beyond.
The Deputy Governor assured UN Women and all bodies involved in championing the projects, of Kaduna state government’s readiness to work with all relevant stakeholders in ensuring effective implementation and impact of the programme.
She called on women business owners in the state to register with the Kaduna State Public Procurement Authority as the agency implementing the project in the state.
The Director General, Kaduna State Public Procurement Authority, Engineer Sanusi Aminu Yero said the agency has drafted a policy framework for the state and is carrying out sensitization to relevant stakeholders across the state for the smooth implementation of the Affirmative Procurement Reform in Kaduna State.
Lateefah Ibrahim
