Poverty Alleviation Cannot Succeed without Women Empowerment


The economic empowerment of more Nigerian women constitutes the major ingredient for and the best weapon to be employed to successfully win the war against poverty.

Former President General of Ohanaeze Ndigbo, Prof. Joe Irukwu, SAN, expressed this view in a lecture he delivered at the recent 2013 Gender Stakeholders Summit and award ceremony organised by the Centre for Gender and Child Development, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State.

He said by empowering more and more women economically at both the family and national levels it “would enable them to combat poverty”.

Irukwu, whose lecture was titled ‘Nigeria at 100: National Building and the Issue of Gender Mainstreaming’ also called for the elimination of all forms of barrier, including cultural practices, that inhibit women development.

He further stated that although significant progress has been made in women participation in politics in Nigeria, a lot more still needed to be done to fully emancipate the Nigerian women and tap their potentials for national development.

“It is my submission that women who are economically successful will be in a better position to influence the direction and quality of our national politics and societal equilibrium,” the chartered accountant and insurance guru said.

In his remarks the Vice-chancellor of MOUAU, Prof. Hilary Edeoga, noted that nobody was created inferior; hence the need to accord women their importance in the society, adding that “any nation that does not respect the talents of both male and female is going to fail”.

Earlier in her address the acting Director of Centre for Gender and Child Development, Mrs. Georgina Edeoga, called for sustained evaluation of the impact of government policies and programmes on the vulnerable members of the society, especially the girl child.

“We want to create opportunities for them to live their dreams. We want to ensure that their march to greatness is not scuttled or impeded by the inertia of the society of ignorance of its members,” she said.

Four personalities were given awards at the ceremony. They included Governor Theodore Orji of Abia state for his outstanding performance in gender empowerment and poverty alleviation while the wife of Bayelsa state governor, Mrs. Rachael Seriake Dickson was honoured for outstanding performance in gender innovation and poverty alleviation.

Other award recipients were Prof. Dora Akunyili, honoured as Amazon of democracy and good governance, as well as popular Nollywood actor, Osita Iheme, who was honoured for outstanding role model in mentoring children/youths.

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