Nigeria experiencing significant growth in women development — UN Women

The United Nations, UN, Women has said Nigeria is experiencing significant growth in women development, with more women gaining access to education, healthcare, and economic opportunities.

The UN women also revealed that about 22 per cent of decision-making positions are held by women in the private sector.

Speaking on Wednesday in Abuja at the UN Women Nigeria Media Forum 2024, Ms. Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS.

Furthermore, she revealed that as part of progress made in the sensitisation of the citizenry on gender equality and women’s empowerment that 35 States in Nigeria have adopted Violence Against Persons(Prohibition) Act.

She noted that states such as Adamawa, Ebonyi, Lagos, Sokoto and Cross Rivers had gone ahead to develop an Action Plan for the implementation of VAP Act in these States.

It should be recalled that the main thrust of the law is to eliminate violence in private and public life, prohibit all forms of violence against persons to provide maximum protection and effective remedies for victims and punishment of offenders and other related matters.

As part of success stories recorded over a period of time, Eyong disclosed that He for She Networks have been established in 16 States across the country to drum up support for gender equality and women’s empowerment.

The UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, therefore, tasked the media practitioners to be more proactive in educating the masses and enforcing behavioral change.

She said: ” As journalists, we need to change the mindsets of communities where gender inequality is entrenched, women’s voices are subdued and rights and aspirations of women and girls are violated with impunity.”

She further underscored the indispensable role of the media in society, adding that “Media is key to setting an agenda on issues of global interest.”