Mercy Corps through the Feed the Future Nigeria Rural Resilience Activity on Friday commemorated 2024 International Women’s Day in Gombe.
2024 celebration is ‘Invest in Women- Accelerate progress’.
PERISCOPE NIGERIA reports that RRA is a five-year (2019 – 2024), USAID-funded programme which seeks to facilitate economic recovery and growth in vulnerable, conflict-affected areas by promoting systemic change in market systems
The Activity is implemented by Mercy Corps, in partnership with the International Fertiliser Development Centre and Save the Children International, primarily in the Northeast states of Adamawa, Borno, Gombe, and Yobe.
Commemorating the 2024 IWD with the theme ‘Accelerating Gender Equality through Economic Empowerment’, Nurain Abdulfatah, harped the organisation’s commitment to supporting women’s economic empowerment initiatives within its operating states and Nigeria at large.
He disclosed the organisation’s commitment to women, adding that its initiatives are geared towards highlighting the importance of economic empowerment in advancing gender equality and promoting rights.
Abdulfatah said, “Various programmes and partnerships are aimed at providing women with access to markets, resources, and technical assistance to help them succeed in business.”
While commending the role of women to nation-building, Abdulfatah added “We are therefore reminded of the very important role we have as individuals, organisations, society, and government to enable us to achieve an inclusive world, where our women will be safe and also have equal opportunities to get involved.”
Speaking, Gombe State Governor, Muhammadu Yahaya, who was represented by the Senior Special Assistant on Media, Safiyanu Danladi, lauded the organisation’s interventions, while expressing the state government’s commitment to protect and support women in the state.
Yahaya noted that his administration has embraced deliberate policies which are geared towards protecting women and children said, “recent legislative efforts, including the passage and assent of the Violence Against Persons Prohibition Act and the Child Protection Act, aimed at safeguarding women and children from exploitation and violence. This administration supports women’s participation in politics through appointment to key positions within the state, and support to contest elections.”
Participants in attendance at the occasion include stakeholders, officials of Ministries, Departments, and Agencies with key partners which include YOULEAD360, Manashfa, Ziya, Esomchi Foods, and Solar Sisters.
