Prof. Pate advocates inter-ministerial, multidisciplinary approach to tackle gender barriers

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate has called for the adoption of inter-ministerial and multidisciplinary approach to tackle gender barriers in Nigeria.

Pate made this call when the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Barr. Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, paid him a visit. The aim of the visit was to advocate on issues affecting gender (women and children) on multi-sectoral and development for nation building.

According to him, President Bola Tinubu, in his Renewed Hope Agenda, holds the issue of women and girls in high esteem.

He said, “When you talk about the welfare of the Nigerian people the women of Nigeria are a key pillar with children being the future of the country. So there is, need to collaborate and build synergies with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Education and others, to promote their wellbeing and welfare which would boost the nation’s development.”

Prof. Pate added that the life course perspective to welfare issues begins from the adolescent who needs to be educated, empowered, protected and nourished to be a good mother.

“They go on to be responsible youths, healthy, strong and transit into gainful employment, be productive members of society as they grow further, even when they are elderly to ensure that they have aged well. The issue of growing through as a human being is one of a whole life course and that is the approach that we are taking as the Health Ministry.

“You, as the Ministry in charge of Women Affairs, have over 50% of that demography because half of Nigeria population are women, so these are the important intersections in this administration that we are discussing”, the Minister stressed.

Addressing some of the concern raised by the Minister for Women Affairs and Social Development, Pate revealed that his Ministry was in line with zero tolerance of the maltreatment of children.

According to him, “The Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity in particular, I think will be a very key ally and we should draw them into the conversation so that the enforcement of the child labour law is optimized.”

He said available developmental resources, meant for the development of the nation have to be judiciously used for the said purpose.

“In the application of development resources, whether domestic financing or external financing, we are in complete agreement. All resources to this country whether there are tax revenue, grant resources or development finance loans from multilateral institutions or banks must be used effectively, efficiently and get to the intended beneficiaries.”

“With regards to the particular project that you mentioned, I would suggest that the officers in your ministry responsible for those loans with the relevant director that we will assign sit to review the loans and the implementation of the agreement that had been made.

“We can maybe then engage the World Bank before we proceed with the implementation of those loans. I think that’s the way to see how we can address this issue, if there is need to restructure”

Earlier, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Barr. Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, spoke on the need to review, the Child Labour Law, to employ strategies for enforcing laws against employing housemaids or boys under 18 years old.

The coordination of donations to NGOs to establish a system for coordinating and declaring all donations to NGOs in Nigeria. Transparency in child adoption procedures, proposing mandatory publication of baby or individual photos before adoption to prevent theft or trafficking.

Barr. Ohanenye, went further to advocate for funds for whistleblowers to encourage reporting of corruption and illegal activities. The transparent utilization of donor funds to ensure that they are properly utilized for intended purposes while prohibiting the allocation of funds for advocacies, meetings, rents and consultancies that do not directly benefit the poor and the establishment of enforcement mechanism, like a mini taskforce comprising of auditors and volunteers to enforce regulations.

She emphasized the importance of collective action and collaboration within various Ministry’s in implementing these measures to improve governance, transparency and social welfare in Nigeria.