The United Nations has highlighted a troubling statistic: one in ten women worldwide is living in extreme poverty.
Beatrice Eyong, the UN Women Country Representative for Nigeria and ECOWAS, shared this alarming figure during a two-day workshop on gender-responsive budgeting and legislative roles in advancing gender equality in Nigeria, held on Monday, July 29.
Eyong warned that projections suggest 342.4 million women and girls will remain in extreme poverty by 2030 unless current trends change.
She noted that in countries like Nigeria, where the wealth gap between the rich and the poor continues to widen, these numbers could be even higher. To achieve gender equity, she emphasised the need for collective action from governments, development partners, civil society, the private sector, and the media.
Eyong questioned the current level of investment in supporting women in leadership roles in Nigeria and called for increased efforts to retain women in political positions and to encourage more women to enter politics and succeed in elections.
She expressed optimism about achieving gender equality and women’s empowerment, despite Nigeria’s current challenges in political representation.
She pointed out that while Nigeria, like other African countries, has committed to various regional and global frameworks—such as the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the Beijing Convention and Platform for Action, and the Maputo Protocol—the country’s progress has been slow.
Nigeria’s National Gender Policy also supports gender inclusivity, advocating for a 35% (revised to 50%) affirmative action in leadership and decision-making roles.
Eyong emphasised that investing in women is crucial for societal progress, asserting that no nation can thrive if women are excluded. She acknowledged that while significant gains may not have been made
recently, progress has been achieved, and efforts to increase women’s participation in leadership roles should continue.
Prof. Abubakar Suleiman, Director General of the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (NILDS), also spoke at the workshop. He underscored the importance of Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB), which integrates gender equality with public financial management.
Suleiman explained that GRB involves assessing, planning, implementing, and evaluating budgets from a gender perspective to ensure equitable resource distribution and address gender disparities.
He highlighted that while challenges remain, GRB is a crucial tool for advancing gender equality and social development. Contrary to misconceptions, Suleiman emphasised that GRB is an intentional approach that ensures fair allocation of resources and addresses gender imbalances across various sectors.
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