As Nigeria joined the rest of the world recently to commemorate International Day of the Rural Women, the Lagos State government has assured of plans to strengthen its grassroots empowerment efforts aimed at boosting the living condition of women living in rural communities.
In her welcome address held at the celebration of International Day of Women held in Epe area of the state, the state’s commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation (WAPA) Mrs. Cecilia Dada said rural women have long been the backbone of the various societies, contributing significantly to agricultural productivity, food security, and sustainable development.
She lamented that in spite of the fact that the global food system is hinged on the daily work of rural women which contributes to at least 50 per cent of the workforce they still suffer gender – inequality such as less access to land, credits agricultural inputs and even obtaining low prices for their crops.
Dada said, “This year, we gather under the global theme “Rural Women Confront Global Cost-of-Living Crisis,” while recognizing the vital role which rural women play in addressing the challenges posed by the rising cost -of- living worldwide.’’
“Empowering rural women is not just a moral imperative; it is also a critical step towards achieving sustainable development and eradicating poverty.’’
‘’Ladies and gentlemen, I want to fervently state here that investing in the education, health, and economic empowerment of rural women not only benefits them, but also yields significant positive impacts on their families, communities, and the entire nation.
‘’At this juncture, I want to inform you that as a government, we remain committed to amplifying these efforts and ensuring that rural women are provided with the necessary tools and resources to confront the cost-of-living crisis.’’
She assured that through the Ministry of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, the state government will continue to implement programmes and initiatives aimed at empowering rural women economically.
‘’We would focus on providing skills training, access to financial services, and promoting entrepreneurship to enable rural women to become active participants in sustainable economic activities.
‘’Moreover, we would continue to provide opportunities in the following areas. Access to Education and Training: WAPA would leave no woman behind in the struggle to ensure financial sustainability. One of such educational enhancement opportunities for rural women, are the tuition free skills acquisition Centres which you have in Igbooye and Epe to equip trainees with the knowledge to engage on 20 income-generating skills.’’
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