President Goodluck Jonathan has promised that his administration will remain committed to improving access of women to finance and institutional support in the realization that tapping the potentials of women in society will greatly impact on the country’s economy.
He spoke on Monday at State House Abuja at the public presentation of the successes that have been achieved by the Growing Girls and Women in Nigeria, G-WIN
The Growing Girls and Women in Nigeria an innovative programme that ties government funds to the delivery of specific results for girls and women in Nigeria was rolled out two years ago
The GWIN approach was conceptualised by the Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, who then sought technical support from UKaid, to design and implement the programme in the most practical way
The approach employs a Budget Expert to guide Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) on gender budgeting and implementation and a gender expert to oversee implementation of the programme and provide on the spot support
The two consultants are at present providing technical support to the Ministries of Finance and Women Affairs in coordinating GWIN, and also to the five line Ministries in implementing GWIN projects.
The project was piloted in the five ministries of Agriculture, Works, Health, Water Resources and Communication Technology and are coordinated by the Federal Ministry of Finance and Federal Ministry of Women Affairs
With N884m and within 12 months of implementation, GWIN projects are already yielding results from the various line ministries.
On Monday the Coordinating Minister of the Economy Brought the program to the Presidential Villa to showcase the successes it has attained in 12 months
President Jonathan is pleased that the programme is opening access to life changing opportunities for girls and women in diverse endeavours. But what touches him more is the life changing opportunity the Programme has provided for victims of Vesicovaginal fistula (VVF)
The GWIN programme is already helping in the the average girl and woman in Nigeria to realize the potentials inherent in them to substantially contribute to the overall growth and development of the community and country.
And though this may seem very much like a campaign gimmick like everything looks right now, the inherent Good of such an initiative cannot be denied
