Governor Sani launches WEE policy in Kaduna….Women empowerment will end GBV - dRPC

Governor Uba Sani of Kaduna State have launched Women Economic Empowerment WEE Policy, at the ongoing Women Economic Empowerment Summit, saying that 65,848 women have so far benefitted from Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme under his administration.

At the Launching of the Policy held at Umaru Musa Yar’adua Hall, Murtala Mohammed Square, Kaduna, Governor Sani disclosed that, his administration has ramped up the implementation of the Kaduna State Women Economic Empowerment Funds (KADSWEF).

He said, his government has also recorded notable achievements in its Social Investment Programs, adding that, “65,848 women, out of the total 70,051, benefitted from our Conditional Cash Transfer Scheme,’’ he said.

Governor Uba Sani explained that, KADSWEF is a unique annual support initiative that provides access to financial resources for women.

‘’We provided the sum of N200 million in the 2024 Budget for this Fund. So far, 10,786 women have benefitted from this Fund. Government is set to flag – off the 4.0 tranche distribution to more beneficiaries with women drawn from across women cooperative groups and associations,’’ he added.

The Governor said that his administration has ‘’ trained over 5,000 rural/ semi urban women on large scale rice shelling using modern agricultural techniques in order to increase productivity, high input processing, profit, in addition to reducing labor cost, and improving quality of products.’’

According to him, over 120 women and Adolescent Girls have been equipped with various Vocational and Entrepreneurship Development Skills.

In the area of agriculture, the Governor said the State has made history by carrying out the largest free fertilizer distribution in Nigeria while women farmers were key beneficiaries of the exercise.

Saying that he ‘’approved the distribution of 500 trucks of fertilizer, out of which 240,000 bags has been distributed free to 120,000 smallholder farmers.’’

Malam Uba Sani noted that his administration is investing in women because doing so is investing in not just in the economy but the future of Kaduna State, adding that that the government is set to intensify efforts in strategic areas towards improving the state’s economic landscape.

Speaking at the event, one of the partners in the National Women Economic Empowerment WEE Policy , development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) noted that, there is critical link between women economic empowerment and the prevention of gender-based violence GBV.

Speaking through its Director of Partnerships and Communications, Hassan Aliyu Karofi, dRPC highlighted that, empowering women economically strengthens their resilience, reduces vulnerability, and addresses root causes of violence against women.

He urged the state governments across the country to domesticate the National Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) Policy as a key strategy.

Hassan Karofi commended Kaduna State for becoming the first to domesticate the WEE policy under Governor Uba Sani’s leadership.

He described it as a significant step toward improving the lives of women and fostering safer communities. 

“The intersectionality between WEE policy implementation and the prevention of gender-based violence is key to protecting women and girls while improving their economic status,” he stated"

The dRPC is supporting eight states in the policy’s domestication, with 11 more states set to begin the process next month, making the initiative a nationwide movement aimed at transforming the lives of Nigerian women.

Other speakers at the event commended the Kaduna State Government under Governor Uba Sani, for its numerous economic empowerment programmes for women.

Nigerian Red Cross Launches Nationwide Response Plan to Combat Mpox Disease

Nigerian Red Cross, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, the NCDC, and other relevant stakeholders, has activated a comprehensive response plan to tackle the Mpox disease across the country.

The Director of Health and Care for the Nigerian Red Cross, Dr. Mannir Jega, disclosed this in Kaduna during a training session for health workers from 15 states nationwide.

Dr. Jega explained that Mpox was a global health concern affecting many countries, including Nigeria.

He emphasized that a preparedness strategy is being developed specifically for the Northern region to reduce disease transmission and protect vulnerable populations, particularly in low-burden states.

The Director revealed that there are about  one hundred and eight confirmed cases of Mpox across twenty seven states in the country.

'the latest figures from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control -NCDC reveal 108 confirmed Mpox cases out of 1,395 suspected cases this year, spanning 27 states and the Federal Capital Territory'

'Mpox outbreak has been declared a global health emergency by both the World Health Organization -WHO and the Africa CDC. Unfortunately, Nigeria is among the affected countries',he narrated.

Dr Mannir Jega stated that the current training program aims at equipping the participants on how to respond effectively to the outbreak.

The director stressed the urgency of the problem, insisting that dicisisive action must be taken to mitigate and prevent further spread.

In her remark, the Health and Care Officer, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Society-IFRC Joan Ojukwu reiterated the commitment of the organization to support NCDC with technical support for prompt awareness mobilization.

'the idea for the training is to have a strong preparedness action plan where staffs will be equipped with the right information about the Mpox disease,while raising awareness on risk communication and community engagement '

'IFRC and Red Cross hopes to support the state with the needed materials like banners ,risk communication key messages information which will be display at the health facilities in the various states',she explained 

Joan Ojukwu also said RED CROSS and the IFRC  has trained some community base disease surveillance officers  who will work closely with the organization to conduct active search case of the Mpox.

The Health Care officer also said IFRC in synergy with National and State Health Care Development Agency is presently conducting a vaccination roll out.

'IFRC and Red Cross aims to help the states with logistics , mobilization of people , vaccinating health care workers ,and increased awareness at the airport and the land border areas ',she concluded.

One of the participants from Kogi state who is a disease surveillance officer Mrs Aturu Christiana appreciates Red Cross for the training, promising to take back what she learns and cascade it at the community level for the good of her people. #radionigeriakaduna