Nigeria’s Cabinet has approved an empowerment policy for women in the country.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Pauline Tallen disclosed this to State House Correspondents, on Wednesday, adding that the approval was given at Tuesday’s extra-ordinary cabinet meeting.
Tallen said the new policy called the WEE policy (Women Economic Empowerment) would help bring about optimal development in the country because women constitute about fifty percent of the population.
She said: “Yesterday the Federal Executive Council approved the WEE Policy. The WEE Policy is Women Economic Empowerment. It is a policy dialogue that we’ve been working on for over one year. We’ve traversed all around the country, to the 36 states, having dialogues with the private sector, rural dwellers, to find the best way to empower women and get them into the mainstream of nation building.
“You’ll agree with me that women constitute over 50% of the population and the surest way to national development is to involve the total population of the country. If 50% of the population is neglected, it means the country cannot develop optimally; it’s like a country walking with one leg.”
The Women Affairs Minister, who thanked President Buhari for giving his nod for the policy to be birthed, also said it has been a long time dream to have such a policy in place because of the importance of women in the society.
“This has been a dream we’ve been pursuing and finally yesterday, Mr. President gave the stamp, it is a legacy that Mr. President is leaving behind by approving this Woman Economic Empowerment to help get women into the mainstream of financial plans to ensure that women are carried along in nation building,” Tallen stressed.
PIAK
