(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/Dame-Patience-Jonathan-300x228.jpg) The regular National Council Meeting on Women Affairs and Social Development has been held in Lokoja, the Kogi State Capital.
The technical session headed by the Permanent secretary of the Ministry. Dr. Habibat M. Lawal, which held on Monday, 3rd June, 2013 marked the commencement of the meeting.
The ceremony which took place in the conference hall of the SAATOF Hotel and Suite had as its theme, "Environmental Degradation: A challenge to sustainable Development and Empowerment of Women and the Vulnerable Groups", lasted 2nd to 7th June, 2013.
The States' Commissioners of Women Affairs and Social Development and their permanent secretaries across the country attended the meeting with other participants drawn from both private and public sectors.
In an opening address, the wife of the President, Dr. Dame Patience Jonathan, who declared the meeting open at the Government House, Lokoja on Thursday, 6th June, 2013 said she was committed to the well- being of women, children and vulnerable groups in the society. She said the theme of the celebration which focuses on the development and empowerment of women in an environment was appropriate.
The first lady called for proper handling and maintenance of the environment to prevent environmental degradation, which will have adverse consequences on the livelihood of women, as well as the nation's economy.
She also stressed the need for more attention to protect the health and the economic interest of women farmers, who according to her constitute 70% of farm labour force in Nigeria.
The first lady urged the meeting to generate concrete policies programmes and projects which could impact positively on the lives of women, children, persons with disabilities and other vulnerable Groups at the end of their deliberations.
She appealed to Kogi State House of Assembly to speed up action on the passage of 35% Women Affirmation Bill, which has been submitted to them.
Also speaking at the occasion, the Minister for Women Affairs and Social Development Hajia Zainab Maina, urged the meeting to fashion out relevant mechanism for checking the cause of environmental degradation.(http://fmi.gov.ng/wp-content/uploads/2013/03/Minister-of-Women-Affairs-and-Social-Development-Hajia-Zainab-Maina2.jpg) (http://fmi.gov.ng/fg-committed-to-gender-balance-says-women-affairs-minister/minister-of-women-affairs-and-social-development-hajia-zainab-maina-3/)
The Minister also called for proactive action to be taken by all relevant stakeholders including the government at all levels to reduce the environmental problems in Nigeria.
In his own address, the Governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Wada thanked the wife of the President Dr. Dame Patience Jonathan for her presence to declare the meeting open, saying that the state has had its share in the environmental degradation following the occurrence of flood in the state in 2012.
He told the First lady that necessary effort will be made by his administration to meet the 35% affirmation for women adding that already all the 21 local government areas have one elected woman councilor and appointed 2 women as supervisory councilors in each local government areas of the state.
In a welcome address, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Habibat M. Lawal explained that the meeting was meant to provide the participants the opportunity to appraise their activities in the last one year so as to chair a way forward. It will enable them to exchange ideas as well as bringing their experiences to bear on how to improve the lives of women, children, aged persons, person with disabilities and other vulnerable groups in Nigeria.
Communiqué is expected to be issued at the end of the one week meeting. The first lady Dr. Dame Patience Jonathan has since returned to Abuja after commissioning the phase II of the State Secretariat Complex.
Via: Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria