By Justina Auta
The Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye has renewed Federal Government’s resolve to showcase Nigeria made fabrics to the global market to eradicate poverty, create job opportunities and generate revenue.
Kennedy-Ohanenye made this known during a public presentation of newly acquired industrial, embroidery and cutting machines for the upgraded sewing factory of the ministry on Tuesday in Abuja.
“These machines form part of our plans towards sustainable empowerment of women to be self-reliant, contribute their quota at the family levels and also bolster the nation’s economic growth.
“For us, when our women are provided with sustained empowerment, the pressure will reduce for our men, the issue of out-of-school children can be addressed because the women will complement their husbands in catering for the home,” she said.
According to her, the industrial machines will form part of the upgrading plans at the sewing factory in Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development.
“We will extend this arrangement across the geo-political zones to deepen our resolve to empower Nigerian women.
“We have concluded arrangements with some foreign investors to push our locally made fabrics to the global market to attract more revenue for our women,” she said.
Rep. Beni Lar, the House Committee Chairman on Science Research Institutions, commended the minister for her resolute and dogged approach towards addressing the plight of women and the vulnerable children.
Lar also commended the ministry’s initiative to showcase Nigeria made fabrics which underscored the willingness of the present dispensation to change the narrative through gender inclusivity.
In a related development, the minister also received the first batch of tricycles under the Pink Riders Transport scheme targeted at women empowerment and job creation.
She added that the scheme has been structured through a partnership with a financial institution that would provide three stages of banking services.
“They will provide loans for the women to procure the tricycles, to pay back the loans without interests and to save money towards procuring their own tricycles,” she said. (NAN)
