A group of partners in the private sector has reaffirmed their readiness to end Gender Based Violence GDV by setting up a private fund of twenty-five million dollars to address the issues in the country.
The UN Women Regional Director for East and Central Africa, Dr. Maxime Houinato who described the move as a huge hope for Nigeria said that the economy of the country will improve drastically when Gender Based Violence is eliminated.
Dr. Maxime disclosed that gender-based violence has been too detrimental to the economy of the country and pulled down efforts by the government in the private sector to lift Nigeria out of poverty.
Dr. Maxime who was speaking in Lagos State; South Western Nigeria during his meeting with the Private Sector CEOs said that the purpose of the meeting was to achieve a mechanism that will promote and manage the Gender-Based Violence fund and to put in place a contribution mechanism for the private sector.
‘‘I’m very glad that for the first time in Africa, a group of partners in the private sector has decided to work and eliminate Gender Based Violence GDV by setting up a private fund of twenty-five million Dollars to address issues. This is quite commendable and will definitely improve the country’s GDP. The target of our meeting today is to achieve a mechanism that will promote and manage the GBV the 25 million dollars targets fund and also to put in place a contribution mechanism for the private sector,’’ he expressed.
Dr. Maxime also called for more awareness to enable the people to be aware of what is going on urging the Nigerian government to recognize and reward the companies that are involved in the project.
’’There is a need for more advertisement to ensure that the public is aware of what is going on and also to help the companies that come forward be recognized. We urged the government to come forward and reward the companies that are involved in the project through tax incentives to ensure that this is replicated to other countries in Africa,’’ he stated.
UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Beatrice Eyong and the founder of Women In Successful Careers WISCAR, Amina Oyagbola expressed the hope that the fund will help to eradicate all the factors that contribute to Gender Based Violence in the country.
’’All the cultural, social and religious norms that have been contributing to this ugly trend must be eradicated,’’ they said.
Some of the Private Sector Partners including First Bank and MTN reaffirmed their willingness to support and eradicate gender-based violence in Nigeria.
Ishmael Nwokeocha is the General Manager of MTN Nigeria.
’’For my organization, I just want to say we are not only committed but be involved to ensure that that particular evil is stemmed away so that productivity both from the women and men move the country forward,’’ he reaffirmed.
Dominica Nwabufo
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