By Aisha Jibrin
A Bauchi State based non-government organisation, Mafita Women and Yoth Initiative has appealed to the Federal Government to create more opportunities for empowerment of women to remove them from poverty and overdependence.
Executive Director of MAWOYDI, Mrs Theresa Orude made the plea in a press statement as part of efforts to celebrate the International Women’s Day marked every March 8, with the theme “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment”
Orude said the theme for this year’s women day calls for the need to empower women through education and skill acquisition and urged the federal ministry of women affairs and social development not to relent in ensuring that women and girls enjoyed equity in various sectors of society.
She noted that although the federal government has launched the Nigeria for Women Project (NFWP), the Women Fund for Economic Empowerment (WOFEE), and the Women In Self-employment Programme (WISE-P), many women remained untargeted.
“Despite the existence of these laudable projects, Nigeria women are disproportionately affected by poverty, making up more than 60 percent of the country’s poorest people,” Orude said.
“This is due to a number of factors limited access to resources, and unequal opportunities”
The Mafita Executive Director urged the federal government to come up with more policies and programmes to address the plight of women saying when a women is empowered, the whole society is empowered.
She also urged the Bauchi State Government to enlist more women and girls for empowerment through the Ministry of Cooperatives, Small and Medium Enterprises Skill Up Bauchi Women Training Programme and AGILE programmes
“These programmes will arm women and girls with valuable skills to survive and become independent,” she said.
“The initiative underscore the need to create more programmers and commitment towads women’s economic empowerment”
International Women’s Day (IWD) is celebrated globally on March 8 to honour women’s achievements and advocate for gender equality. In 2025, the theme is “For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment,” emphasising the urgency to expedite progress toward gender parity.
This theme calls for swift, decisive measures to address systemic barriers and biases affecting women in various spheres. It encourages individuals, communities, and organisations to implement effective strategies and amplify efforts that promote women’s advancement, by supporting initiatives that empower women and challenge discrimination
