***Seeks protection for donor fund
BY EZE NNADI
As part of measures to address the economic hardship that is currently ravaging the nation, the federal government has announced that it has secured a $100 women empowerment project that would be funded by the World Bank
This is as government had frowned at the exploitation of donor organisations by certain groups and individuals, in the name of supporting vulnerable Nigerians.
Determined to address the exploitation, the federal government said it will soon inaugurate the Integrity Brigade to protect donor agencies from exploitation, as well as monitor the flow and disbursement of fund from the agencies
Minister of Women Development, Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, who made the disclosure during a media briefing on Monday in Abuja said the government will be inaugurating the integrity brigade, which the media will be part of, to prevent misappropriation of funds meant for Nigerians.
The event took place after a walk by a group of women, as part of activities to mark the International Women Day in Abuja
Ohanenye regretted that those involved in the exploitation act use terms like consultancy, advocacy, research to get convince donors to release the fund, adding that such gimmicks must be stopped through the Integrity Brigade
“I want the media to join the integrity brigade which will fight these ills.
“So I am pleading that for the sake of our country, we use this opportunity well to get things right.”
The minister further disclosed that the federal government is set to introduce a $100 million World Bank funded project to economically empower Nigerian women.
She said the project, which is tagged P-BAT Cares, seeks to empower women with capacities, adding the it will address issues of norms and harmful practices to women and children
She said, ‘From the onset, President Bola Tinubu has said ‘allow the poor breathe’ and ordered serious support by signing for a restructured Nigeria for women project, so that help coming for women will go directly to the vulnerable women and the rural women,” she said.
“He is equally encouraging that there will be no more advocacies, meetings, consultancies or technical supports, training and research from both borrowed monies and donors monies.
“As far as he has signed this, I said I should call my people, the media. The president cannot achieve all these things he is hoping to achieve for women and children without the media.
“Remember that when women are taken care of, the nation is already taken care of.
“On the 7th of March, Mr. President is unveiling P-BAT Care for Nigerian women. For the first time, we have a president who cares for the Nigerian women. That is why this year’s International Women’s Day is a special one.
“The project has women empowerment, economic sustainable empowerment toward the women, it has issues of attacking norms and harmful practices like female genital mutilation (FGM), child labour, out-of-school children, and early and money marriages going on and so many other things.
“Also, the president has endorsed a mobile court to address violence against women and children. President Bola Tinubu has also asked for the restructuring of women for women project.”
