Challenges before the new Minister of Women Affairs

By Paschal Agbada

Many women have championed the cause of Nigerian women through the Ministry of women Affairs as Ministers since it was repositioned in 1999. Some had impacted positively on both the Ministry and the Nigerian women while others played possum. To whichever class anyone of them belonged none however, was able to elevate the genuineness and relevance of the Ministry to a proper visible problem¬-solving and truly impactful Ministry. In certain quarters and, considering what women go through in Nigeria questions are often asked whether really there’s a women’s Ministry in existence.
As can be noted, today, women are still wantonly oppressed. Gender issues though constitutionally enshrined still sit on the cusp. Assaulting the girl child has become the forte of even fathers both sexually and otherwise, to say the least. Of course, the age old female genital mutilation remains an ingrained practice. Despicable violence against women rather than ebb on the altar of modernity and civilization remains intractable here. Should I go on? Definitely not much has obviously been done. Instead, the ministry on account of these yawning lapses calls for a Daniel at the judgement seat.
Curiously, there are a couple of other third world countries that clearly share Nigeria’s type of problems especially as it relates to women. India, Bangladesh, Vietnam and even Rwanda in Africa. These countries have been known to be able to stem the ugly tide of crimes against women in their respective countries. Therefore, a peep into their approach and how their women ministry tackled theirs could help.
After the Women Beijing Conference in China in 1995, many third world countries like Nigeria swung into action and elected that it was time to place their women on a proper perspective.
Bangladesh for instance, enacted strict laws to help shore up issues regarding treatment of women and the girl child in their society. They created and enhanced budget approvals as guaranteed by the newly enacted laws. Government then improved financial allocations for the implimentation of various programmes in the women affairs ministry. Obviously, these were programmes that hitherto had suffered lack of funding for implementation and proper delivery. Special designed programmes in education, manpower development, capacity building and uniquely needful vocational trainings, all pushed their women to where they are today. Bangladesh, based on a special World Bank Report recently has closed 71.4% of its overall gender gap and has ran up to the 7th position out of 146 countries among developing nations.
In Rwanda, the impact of women is constantly being felt. Women are known to occupy 61% of Rwandan Parliament. This is strictly consequent upon the importance they have attached to their women affairs and its commanding ministry.
Through a special programme and working in synergy with USAID, the Rwandan government makes sure that her Women Affairs Ministry is properly funded. This gives room for massive empowerment of the women in agriculture, education, entrepreneurship, special crafts, etc.
In the same vein, women, through the Rwandan Ministry of Women Affairs can access various forms of loans and facilities for various projects. This accounts for the reason why in Rwanda today women contribute veritably to the sustenance of the country’s economy.
Vietnam, on her own, another third world country, following the United Nation’s 4th World Conference on Women held in Beijing, China, in 1995, officially declared a development strategy for commitment by the government to implement the acclaimed Global Strategy for Equality, Development, Peace. This saw the government rise up to the occasion for women empowerment in all spheres. Overtime, there has been a total fulfillment on that score. Proudly, Vietnam is one of the countries in the world that has achieved significant records in women liberation and gender equality. While Vietnamese women account for 51.2% of the population 50.61% of social labour force in that country is made up of women. The women of Vietnam have obtained outstanding achievements in all fields of endeavor, in political, economic, cultural and social life.
Nigeria should take a cue from all these. Repositioning and shoring up the vibrancy of the women affairs ministry is paramount. She has to show the will and determination to do it. The women of this country have been at the receiving end of the stick, it is time to change the scenario.
With a strong career legal expert, profound in her undertakings, sound in reasoning and judgment, outstandingly savvy in her approach to practice, Barr. Uju Ken Ohanenye is an escape from the ordinary. She knows her onions and definitely can turn out to be the metaphorical cleaner of the Augeans Stables. With her in charge at the ministry of women affairs Nigerian women can really have some respite from all the vices against them. She is tough, firm and boldly audacious. Interestingly, she has the call to prudent management of both resources, finance and otherwise and can put her law practice to good use as an edge.
With a wealth of experience spanning several years I have no doubt in my mind that the ministry of women affairs is in for a pleasant and robust awakening. She has paid her dues in the legal practice and with that experience which includes years, times and exposures garnered in various voluntary services, empathizing and handling pro-bono cases she is strictly attuned to the intricate needs of that ministry. She is a dogged fighter and a strong advocate cum crusader for justice.
As a defender of justice, she has seen it all, even at her youthful age she comes into the fray as a known philanthropist of repute.
Her various pet projects that include orphanages, motherless babies homes, prison visitation programmes, indigent school children on her scholarship projects, to mention but a few, stands her out as a humanitarian and her ministry suits her just fine. It is more like saying, a round peg in a round hole. While wishing the Nigerian women good luck on this ride with Barr. Uju Ohanenye, they should equally open their hands and appreciate God for bringing to them this sunshine on the horizon.
However, it is for the Nigerian government to do the needful by backing her up squarely and give her the necessary support to do her job. I trust she will deliver.

Paschal Agbada, a Public Affairs Analyst writes in from Abuja.