NGO tasks govt on women empowerment, girl-child education

A non-governmental organization has called on the federal government to ensure education for the girl child and the involvement of more women in decision making in the country especially in the North-east.

The chief executive officer of Christian Aid Amanda Mukwashi said, “the livelihood of people in the IDPs is not encouraging especially the children and women who are mostly affected.

Amanda disclosed this during a national symposium on women in governance organized by Center for Leadership Strategic Development in collaboration with Christian Aid, and Side by Side Movement recently, in Abuja.

“I have been to Maiduguri and the IDPs camps. What shocks me in particular is the infrastructure there, they have collapsed and the women and children there bear the brunt of any unfortunate crisis in the society and little children and women are left helpless with or no shelter to call their own.”

She further stressed the need for government to ensure education especially of the girl child.

According to her, “In 10 to 15years to come, what becomes of these children that have no education, which means they may not be able to participate in politics and also get appointed in political positions and in terms of gender justice I am disappointed.”

Meanwhile, the Co-Chairman of Side by Side Movement Rev Israel Akanji said there was need for religious leaders to examine the scriptures because some religious leaders had misinterpreted the scriptures to support subjugation of women.

He said: “Part of what we are saying now is that we examine scripture to have proper interpretation.

“The law says 35% should go to women and we are not implementing it so what we are doing here is to come together as religious and traditional leaders to use our positions and influence our communities so that the right would be done to have gender equality particularly more women participation in governance”.

Also speaking, another Co- Chair Prof. Mustapha Ismail said the holy Qur’an has a whole chapter dedicated to women.

“We should go back to the Qur’an educate our people on gender equality”, he said.

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