From the 16 days Activism dedicated worldwide against Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) including all forms of discriminations, actions and inactions against women that was declared open by the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim fsi, on November , 25, 2024, the road to real and genuine domestication and liberation of women folk has begun.
In the last 16 Days of Global Activism against SGBV, Imaan had mobilized 774 local government chairmen’s wife including women councillors across the country, state governor’s wife , women political appointees both at state and commissioners for women affairs .
As the critical stakeholders in the public service geared towards driving the new approach against SGBV, Imaan made extraordinary arrangements and co-opted women stakeholders , Non Government Organizations NGOs , Civil Society Organisations CSO’s, public spirited individuals fighting against women discrimination, the HeforShe, as well as those owned by both gender capable of driving women emancipation.
The new Minister also used the opportunity to co-opt the international communities and bodies who are directly or indirectly responsible for the day to day program nationally and internationally, through adequate and indepth awareness campaigns that criss cross the nooks and crannies of the country in the last 16 days.
From the international day of violence against women which began in November 16 that culminated into the day signified as Human Rights day which fell into December, 10, 2024.
Aside mobilising both local and international stakeholders, staffers of the agency and agencies of government, Ministries and Departments were all engaged into the 16 Days Global Activism in line with the mandate of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration.
With the marking of the Human Rights day for December, 10, 2024, it is a positive drive by the current leadership at the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development under Hajiya Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim fsi has kick-started a new chapter in human/women liberation from all forms of discriminations.
Having launched a vigorous campaigns and advocacies both locally and internationally to mark the 16 Days Global Activism against SGBV, spread across the six geopolitical zones, nooks and crannies of the country, the campaign for life sentence for those who harass women sexually has begun in earnest.
With determination and obvious display of capabilities by the Minister and her team which included a well positioned technocrats , bureaucrats and well thought out political head at the top echelon of the Ministry’s affairs , no doubt, the journey against all forms of discussions and discriminations against women have taken another dimension .
All hands must be on deck to support the new leadership encapsulated under the Renewed Hope Agenda, not only to consolidate the new policy thrust and programs of the Ministry , but the timely execution of programs.
With the body language of Hajiya Imaan Suleiman -Ibrahim fsi as Minister for Women Affairs and Social Development, no doubt a new dawn has begun.
Written BY ABUBAKAR YUSUF on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.
