Gender equality crucial to SDGs – NESG

Chief Executive Officer, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Laoye Jaiyeola, says gender equality and policies that adopt inclusive approaches are central to accelerating Sustainable Development Goals’ attainment in Nigeria.

Addressing reporters in Abuja yesterday, he noted that Nigeria ranked 139 of 149 countries on the global gender index, stressing the need for joint efforts towards abating gender-inequality-related losses.

He said: “A recent analysis by the United Nations reported that by 2030, for every 100 men living in poverty, there’ll be 121 women if deliberate steps are not taken to counter the adverse impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“The World Bank also reports that about 14.9% of Nigerians live with some spectrum of disability, and a substantial proportion of people with disability lack access to essential services, with attitudinal barriers representing a significant impediment to their socio-economic inclusion.”