Gombe Gov inaugurates Steering Committee on Nigeria- For- Women Project
By Ben Ngwakwe, Gombe
The Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Inuwa Yahaya, has inaugurated Multi-Sectoral Coordination Steering Committee, Nigeria-for- Women Project in Gombe State.
The inauguration took place at the Conference Hall of Deputy Governor on Monday while the Committee is also headed by the State Deputy Governor, Manassah Daniel Jatau.
He said, “My dear Committee members, you will all agree with me that based on world trends and particularly events and happenings in the society, the debut of this Committee is apt, germane, crucial and indeed inevitable.
Whereas worldwide, the normal demographic trends in most countries record more females than males in a population, our experience in Nigeria is slightly different. It is interesting to note that the sex ratio percentage of female population is 49.31% leaving male with a 50.69%. The implication of this is that the females almost equal the number of males in Nigeria. In Gombe State this translated to 1,725,850 females.”
The Governor said, “With this numerical strength of females, the compelling need to address their issues becomes pertinent. This is more so as there is no gainsaying the fact that whatever impacts on females transmits also on the children and youths since they are more close to their mothers. It is only logical therefore that we should ensure that women groups at all levels are assisted in order to support livelihoods, and improvement for individual women and their colleagues. This is usually in forms of Financial Grants,Business Advisory services,Better access to markets,Personal Initiative,Skills and Innovations among others.
” As a government, we are expected to create an enabling and conducive environment for women’s participation through strategic and change communication. Overall we must support women to acquire and have active membership in Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) and whatever they stand for. Government is committed to doing this and that is why it set up this Committee. Precisely our Committee must be determined to carry out this mandate successfully, guided by the underlisted Terms of Reference (TOR)”.Review of overall progress of the project in achieving set objectives;Suggest solutions to problems encountered in meeting objectives and direct potential changes as agreed with implementing Ministries, Departments and Agencies(MDAS)Review and evaluate activities and give recommendations on addressing challenges and strategies to improve the performance of the project.”
Some of the terms of reference include to explore and enhance specific activities and areas of cooperation of promoting WAG, Marshall the development of coordinated response to promoting WAGs in empowerment programme that is evidence based best practices, and to serve as a platform for sector-wide dialogue and consensus-building, and, Enhance coordination between various entities of WAGS and take appropriate measures to address issues raised in the project reports.
The Deputy Governor listed the members of the Committee as follows;
( The Secretary to the State Prof. Ibrahim Abubakar Njodi, Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Women Affairs & Social Dev., Mrs Naomi J.J. Awak, Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Agriculture & Animal Husbandary, Mohammed Magaji Gettado, Honourable Commissioner Ministry of Finance & Eco. Development, Mohammed Gambo Magaji,Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Rural & Cooperatives Dev. Honourable Commissioner Alh.Danladi Adamu, Ministry of Health, Dr. Habu Dahiru Honourable Commissioner, Ministry for Local Government & Chieftaincy Affairs, Alh. Dasuki Jalo, and Honourable Commissioner Min. of Trade, Industry & Tourism, Alh.Nasiru Aliyu Mohammed.
Others are Attorney-General/Hon. Commissioner Ministry of Justice, Barr. Zubairu Mohammad Umar, Honourable Commissioner, Ministry of Youth Development, Abubakar Musa, Executive Chairman Akko LGA, Executive Chairman Shongom LGA, Mr. Yohanna Nagari, Executive Chairman Gombe LGA, Special Adviser on Social Investment, Rep. of International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Representative of Federation of Muslim Women, Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN), Representative of Women Wing, Christian Association of Nigeria (WOWICAN), Representative of ANGO, Representative of National Council for Women Society, (NCWS), Team Lead, State to State, Head of Office, Mercy Corps, and Special Adviser on Budget, Planning and Development Partner Coordination Office, Dr. Ishiyaku Mohammed is to serve as Secretary.
