FG commends Kwara Assembly on VAPP

…as Kwara Speaker advocates women participation in politics

Federal Government of Nigeria has commended the Kwara state House of Assembly for the passage of Violence Against Persons Prohibition Law, noting that it is a potent weapon to combat all forms of gender based violence in the society.

The Federal Government made the commendation through the Minister for Women Affairs – Dame Paulen Tallen, during ‘He for She’ advocacy visit to the Kwara state House of Assembly, according to a statement by the Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker, Ibrahim Sheriff.

In her remarks, Tallen said “We are here on ‘He for She’ campaign, a United Nations (UN) campaign to celebrate men who have demonstrated clear commitment in carrying women along in Nation building and gladly, Kwara state Governor has done that.

“The all men 9th Kwara Assembly recognizes the essence of women in our society and understands that women growth is strategic and essential to nations building and that is why it domesticated the VAPP Act.

She added, “We congratulate you on the passage of the VAPP Law and for the demonstration of the Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq’s love for women that earned him the He for She award”.

The Minister noted that since the outbreak of COVID-19, children have been locked in with their abusers (fathers inclusive) and her Ministry have received heartbreaking reports from all States of the federation of gender based violence and therefore appeal to Kwara state House of Assembly to ensure implementation of the VAPP and Child Right Law.

She furthered that no State is an exception from gender based violence, stressing that no religion permits a baby to give birth to a baby. She also prayed to the House to propose and pass a Bill that encourages women participation in lawmaking and governance in the State.

In his reaction, Speaker, Kwara state House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Engr. Yakubu Danladi Salihu said “Kwara state is gender sensitive and that is evidenced in the constitution of Permanent Secretaries in our Ministries, Commissioners, Special Advisers among other. Even in the composition of our Assembly Service Commission and Management Staff, the womenfolks are given significant considerations.

“We are proud to have you (Dame Paulen Tallen) in President Buhari’s administration, as someone who followed your trajectory since my days as a student unionist, I admire how you fought for women and we are glad associating with you.

Danladi-Salihu added “The 9th Kwara Assembly recognized the need to respect and protect our mothers, sisters and children and that is why we have done the needful by passing VAPP Law, which the Governor signed immediately.”

Commenting on legislation to encourage women inclusion in governance, the Lawmaker said “Passing a Law for women inclusion is not an issue, but the womenfolk must also take that risk and rise up to the challenge of aspiring for leadership positions at various level. We must first advocate for participation of women in politics.”

The lawmaker also solicit the support of the Federal Government and the Hon. Minister’s to attract various intervention for women development in Kwara state.

Editor

Ibrahim Sheriff is the Editor of Fresh Insight and former Special Assistant on Media to the Speaker, Kwara state House of Assembly. Although a management science researcher by training, he has over five years experience of practice in Journalism, Public Relations and Communication Strategy. Sheriff holds a Masters Degree in Finance and Bachelors Degree in Banking and Finance from Kwara state University, Malete. He has Certificates in Digital Journalism, Enterprise Creation and Skill Acquisition (ECSA) and Basic Econometrics Data Analysis, as well as Bank of Industry (BoI) Certificate in Business Management. He is also a holder of Diploma in Cooperative Studies from Kwara state Polytechnic, Ilorin.

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