President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has reaffirmed his commitment to safeguarding Nigerian women from all forms of discrimination and violence, while also ensuring they have fair access to justice through the implementation of gender-sensitive policies.
Speaking at the Empower-Her Nigeria event on Women Farming, Health, Empowerment, Justice, Entertainment, and Fundraising, organised by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs at the Presidential Villa on Tuesday, President Tinubu underscored his administration’s dedication to the empowerment of women and the pursuit of gender equality.
“We recognise the challenges women face with limited access to education and healthcare, gender-based violence, and economic disparity. It is crucial for us as a nation to address these issues and create opportunities for women to thrive and succeed,” he stated.
The president, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), George Akume, added, “We must ensure women have access to justice and protection from all forms of violence and discrimination, which necessitates strengthening our institutions, promoting gender-sensitive policies, and supporting women’s rural organisations.”
In his keynote address, Tony Elumelu, Chairman of United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc, highlighted the bank’s dedication to women’s empowerment, noting that 78% of its loans are directed toward supporting women, given their critical role in societal development.
“Women are the driving force behind sustainable development, innovation, and economic growth,” Elumelu remarked, adding that UBA offers exclusive SME loan products tailored to women-led and women-owned businesses. “We have ensured that 78% of our working capital loans are empowering these women-led and women-owned enterprises.”
Represented by Oliver Alawuba, UBA’s Group Managing Director, Elumelu also emphasised the bank’s commitment to gender equality within its own ranks. “We have close to 50% female representation on our board, 40% of senior management roles are held by women, and an impressive 59% of our graduate management trainees are female. We are truly leading the charge for gender equality in the corporate world,” he noted.
The event, themed ‘Farming to Feed the Nation, Empowerment to Give Women Voices, Justice for Crimes to Have Consequences via Mobile Court,’ was described by Elumelu as a “beacon of hope and a call to action for the holistic empowerment of women across Nigeria.”
He further pledged UBA’s support for federal government efforts to uplift Nigerian women, stating, “We must empower women because when women thrive, societies prosper. The United Nations has consistently emphasised that gender equality and women’s empowerment are at the heart of sustainable development.”
