The Kaduna State government has launched the domestication of the National Women’s Economic Empowerment Policy, a clear demonstration of its commitment to women’s economic empowerment.
The domestication, supported by the development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC), followed a series of other activities lined up to domesticate the policy at the state level.
Before the citizens’ engagement, the dRPC supported the state’s Ministry of Human Services and Social Development in inaugurating a 12-member committee and held a one-day meeting with CSOs to socialise with the National WEE policy. The dRPC also supports a consultant who works with the Ministry to write the policy.
In her opening remarks at the event, the state’s commissioner for Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Rabi Salisu, disclosed this at a one-day citizens’ engagement workshop organised by the Development Research and Projects Centre (dRPC) to support the domestication of national policy in the state.
She disclosed that the state is determined to invest in women and girls through various economic development, education, agriculture, and entrepreneurship interventions.
While commending the development Research and Projects Centre for supporting the state in domesticating the policy, she assured that Kaduna state would be a pacesetter in promoting, developing, and uplifting the standard of living of women in the state.
‘I want to assure you that so far, so good in the areas of social intervention, cash transfers, skills acquisition, education, and social development, adding that launching the policy will enable more investment and inclusion in the state.
Earlier, the Executive Director of the Development Research and Projects Centre, Dr Judith-Ann Walker, represented by the Director of Partnerships and Communications, Malam Hassan Aliyu Karofi, disclosed the rationale behind the support to the state is to support inclusion, adding that 24 more states have been earmarked to be supported to domesticate the policy.
In her presentation at the workshop, the Gender Lead at the Albright Stonebridge Group, Mrs Rimicit Aboki, challenged the subnational governments to explore the value inherent in domesticating and implementing the policy to unlock the potential of women’s economic empowerment.
The World Bank representative at the workshop, Mr Musa Yusuf commended the Kaduna state government for embracing the policy while assuring that the Bank will provide technical assistance to the state to support the domestication of the policy for the benefit of the citizens.
The workshop brought together representatives from civil society, traditional and religious groups, women-led organizations, the private sector, and Ministries, departments, and parastatals in Kaduna State.
The outcome of the one-day engagement
The workshop, which brought participants from the three senatorial zones of the state, had 53 attendees comprising Women-led business owners, clergy, traditional rulers, government ministries, departments and agencies working in the areas of WEE, and the general public to make their input into the proposed policy in the state.
Next Steps
The next meeting is expected next week (The second week of July) by the 12-member committee to discuss and write their report and submit it to the consultant and the Commissioner of Human Services and Social Development.
