This is the time to depoliticize, if we ignore the advancement of majority of women(not the privilege few),we sign off our country to the doldrums of repression, poverty and low standing in league of advance nations. The problem is we have very low expectations of ourselves and each other. The facts are there for all to see: The World Bank stated that in Nigeria, if young Nigerian women had the same employment rates as young Nigerian men, they would add 13.9 billion Naira in annual GDP. So we have to encourage our young women to live up to their full potential. So the challenge for Nigeria is ; how to change the lives of Nigeria’s 80.2 million women and girls who have a reduced life chances. As the real and depressing fact is that one-quarter to one-half of girls in developing counties become mothers before age 18 according to the United Nations Population Fund. The focus should therefore be on health and human rights of girls and women. In a statement, Development Communications,Network disclosed that, “in spite of the increasing participation of women in government, it is worrisome that the rate of violence against women and the persistent deaths of women due to complications of pregnancies and childbirth still remain a major debacle for many women as many African countries are leaving no stone unturned in their quest to reduce maternal deaths”. What have Nigeria done despite the pledge along with over 188 other countries vowed to reduce by half her maternal mortality rate by the year 2015.The government in 2001, pledged to set a target of at least 15percent of their annual budget to improve the health sector. This has not happened. In 2013, Nigeria’s budget was 9.4precent less than the recommended rate agreed upon. And the country’s health budget during the period was 5.6precent as against the recommended 15percent suggested by the African Leaders.” - See more at: vanguardngr/2014/03/educating-nigerian-girls-transform-nation/#sthash.uzYkU0pb.dpuf
Posted on: Sun, 16 Mar 2014 08:49:49 +0000
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