Kwara State has taken an important step to help women grow and do well. The state has agreed to use a special plan called the National Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) Policy. This plan helps more women take part in business, work, and leadership. The Federal Government says this is a very good move that will help the whole country.
At a big event, the Minister of Women Affairs, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, spoke through her assistant, Princess Jummai Idonije. She said Kwara is doing a great job by helping women. She thanked the state leaders for making women feel included and for trying to make Nigeria stronger.
The Minister said that the WEE Policy is more than just a government plan. It shows that Kwara wants to treat both women and men fairly. She also thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for supporting women through his Renewed Hope Agenda. The First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, was also praised for helping women and families all over Nigeria.
Kwara Governor and First Lady Praised
The Minister gave special thanks to Governor Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq. She called him a true “HeForShe champion,” which means he is a man who helps women. She said that under his leadership, Kwara has done more than expected to include women in government. The First Lady of Kwara, Ambassador Professor Olufolake Abdulrazaq, was also praised. She helped bring this policy to life in the state. The Minister said her work has started a bigger change in other parts of the country.
Important people like the Emir of Shonga, Dr. Haliru Yahaya, also helped. They supported the plan and said women should have more chances in government and business.
Why the WEE Policy Matters
The WEE Policy is part of Nigeria’s big plan to grow and improve. It also connects to the Sustainable Development Goals, which are goals to make the world better. The policy will help women get things like money for business, jobs, land, and leadership roles.
The Minister said Nigeria has more than 104 million women and girls. That is more than half of the people in the country. She said we can’t forget about them if we want Nigeria to be strong. When women do well, families become stronger, poverty goes down, and the country becomes more stable.
What Needs to Be Done
To make the WEE Policy work, the Minister said we must train the people who will run the programs. She said more money should be given to help women in real ways. If Kwara keeps doing this, it can become a great example for other states.
The Minister also talked about how few women are in politics in Nigeria. She said only 4 out of every 100 leaders at the federal level are women. In state assemblies, the number is only about 5 out of every 100. She asked lawmakers in Kwara to support a new law called the Special Seats Bill. This law will give more women a chance to be leaders. She said Kwara is already doing a good job by having women in its House of Assembly.
When women are not part of big decisions, she said, important issues like women’s health and education are often not handled well. That is why it is important to give women a voice.
Conclusion
The WEE Policy in Kwara is a big deal. The state wants to give women more chances to succeed. Other states in Nigeria are expected to follow Kwara’s example. Helping women helps the whole country grow.
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