BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF
The determination of the SDGs leadership in Nigeria to resolve poverty , create empowerment and employment opportunities as well as entrepreneurial development had been the cardinal objectives to liberate women from the shackles of underdevelopment.
Therefore, this years International Women’s Day (IWD), 2025, tagged ‘Accelerate action ‘ was not only meant to mark the occasion, but create an enabling environment for women to thrive, equality among men and women as well as promote gender parity amidst daunting environment.
In this vein, SDGs under the leadership of Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire has prioritised SDGs Goals (5), and also promoted indices that will make the programs of reducing poverty through its alleviation, against women a cardinal objectives.
Having made the two core issues possible through empowerment and entrepreneurial development to make women self sustaining, realize their potentials, over 1,850 women from the 36 states of the federation and the FCT are been empowered with 500 each from 36 states, with series of items in conjunction with the Renewed Hope Agenda and Renewed Hope initiative (RHI) of the office of the First Lady , Senator Remi Tinubu in 2025 .
To forestall the welfare and well-being of Nigeria’s women , efforts are been drew to equate the domesticated action towards women welfare in line with the global action and activities, so as to bring to par women emancipation across length and breadth of the country.
With determination to sustain the tempo , SDGs under SSAP -SDGs, Princess Adejoke Orelope -Adefulire expressed more commitment while marking this year’s program with the following speech to herald the program.
In her speech at the occasion, she opined as follows …
“The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Sustainable Development Goals (SSAP-SDGs), Princess Adejoke Orelope-Adefulire, has reaffirmed her office’s dedication to implementing policies and initiatives aimed at advancing the welfare and well-being of women and the girl-child, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.”
“Her remarks were contained in a statement issued by her Special Assistant on Media, Desmond Utomwen, to mark the 2025 International Women’s Day, celebrated under the theme ‘Accelerate Action’. ”
“Princess Orelope-Adefulire noted that this year’s IWD theme serves as a clarion call for collective action to advance gender equality and enhance the welfare and well-being of women. She emphasised that the theme acknowledges the urgent need for the global community to accelerate efforts towards achieving gender equality.”
“The World Economic Forum has estimated that, at the current rate, gender equality may not be achieved until 2158. But we do not need to wait until 2158. We can accelerate action if we take swift and decisive steps that bring us closer to gender equality while continuing to dismantle the systemic barriers that have hindered women’s progress,” Princess Orelope-Adefulire stated.”
“She further reiterated her office’s commitment to the welfare and well-being of women, highlighting OSSAP-SDGs’ interventions in the health sector, including the establishment of well-equipped Mother and Child Hospitals and primary healthcare facilities, aimed at reducing maternal and child mortality rates across Nigerian communities. She also referenced the provision of Transit Homes for abused women and girls.”
“At OSSAP-SDGs, we remain committed to implementing initiatives that advance gender equality in line with Goal 5 of the SDGs. We will continue working with governments at various levels to deliver interventions that promote the progress and welfare of women, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration,” Princess Orelope-Adefulire affirmed.”
Having created an enabling environment, no doubt the 2158 envisaged as period of women emancipation and equality, may be altered in view of both domestic and global approach towards women development.
Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.
