The Chairperson of the Better Life Programme for African Rural Women (BLPARW), Hajiya Aisha Babangida, has called for collaboration among Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the country to adequately empower women and girls.
Hajiya Aisha, a daughter of a former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida, made the call in Abuja at the formal launch of “Her Majesty”, a 15-minute film chronicling and amplifying the struggles, challenges and contributions of the Nigerian rural woman.
She said the programme was organised by BLPARW in keeping the hope and legacy of her late mother, Mrs Maryam Babangida.
The event which was part of activities marking the United Nations (UN) International Day of Rural Women with the theme: “Rural Women Rise and Claim Your Basic Right to Sustainable Development”, also witnessed encomiums on the late Maryam Babandiga who founded the Better Life for the Rural Woman.
Hajiya Aisaha said, “It does not make sense if NGOs are doing separate things without getting desired results and not creating impact.”
On efforts to change the fortunes of the women, she said BLPARW is connecting with the women, training them, and ensuring they have skills and tools for their businesses to provide additional sources of income for them.
She said, “We are making connections with them and ensuring they are financially equipped. We also want to ensure that they have the skill and tools for their businesses which will, in turn, provide additional sources of income for them. We are also in partnership with banks that will give them grants and loans at zero interest.”
On her part, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dame Pauline Tallen, urged women to support the enrollment and completion of the education of the girl child.
Tallen lamented that Nigerian rural women and girl child face threats, ranging from domestic violence, sexual harassment, traditional and harmful practices, fear of intimidation, limited access to training facilities, education, malnutrition, and lack of health care facilities.
She said, “If each of us here adopts a strategy of educating a girl child it will go a long way as the government cannot do everything.”
She also urged wealthy women in the country to invest in the lives of underprivileged rural women living in abject poverty across communities, so as to positively impact their lives.
Earlier, Director General, National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), Dr. Asabe Villita Bashir, lamented the rising hunger, malnutrition and food insecurity mostly affecting women.
She said, “Climate change and insecurity, banditry, farmer herdsmen clashes, compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic has further worsen the situation of food security in Nigeria and rural women are the ones most affected by all these factors.
