Gombe gov prioritizes women issues -Commissioner
Chima Azubuike, Gombe
Gombe State Commissioner for Women Affairs,Hon. Naomi Awak, says issues relating to women are receiving serious attention by the current administration.
Awak stated this in an interview with our correspondent in Gombe, revealing that women are the biggest beneficiaries of empowerment in Governor Muhammadu Yahaya’s administration.
According to her, health, education and road facilities as well as credit facilities are for the convenience of women most especially those in the rural communities, adding that more out of school children have returned to school.
She noted that when a woman is empowered, her family, community would also be empowered, stressing that the political architecture is moderately favourable unlike the past.
“In women empowerment, alot has been invested in skill acquisition across the 11 LGA’s, in the polling units. So far, more than 3000 women have been empowered; in bead, soap making, catering, tailoring services and they have been offered starter packs to enable them continue with what they learnt in order to leverage on the economic livelihood of their families.
“Looking at the appointment we have women; Special advisers we have some, chairmen of board we have women, local government chairmen, councillors we have women and the governor has supported women politically. it has never been in the history of northern Nigeria, well I don’t know of the south that every local government a woman will be there. He doesn’t believe the woman should just be kept in the house to be producing babies. He believes women can combine being good home managers and leaders,” Awak said.
While commenting on the reduction of out of school children, the commissioner stated that there has been a deliberate support by Governor Muhammadu Yahaya, in situating women to limelight.
“Ministry of Woman Affairs is appreciative of the government for focusing most of the projects on Women.This cuts across the health, education as well as the road networks that have been executed to the benefit of women. As we speak, across the 11 LGA’s situated in 114 wards you will notice a Primary Healthcare Centre and women are the beneficiaries. Alot have been invested in the area of health.
“Before assumption of office the education sector had collapsed with great number of out of school children but through the Better Education Service Delivery for All (BESDA), more children have since returned to school.
“The girl child who in the past didn’t have access to education is now attending school, you can see that the roaming around of children during school period has reduced. The reason we look forward to his second term in office,” She added.
