By Ikugbadi Oluwasegun
Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman- Ibrahim, Minister of Women Affairs has identified outdated policies, poor coordination, and inadequate funding as major obstacles limiting the Ministry’s ability to protect and promote the rights and welfare of women and girls.
She gave the indication while meeting with the House Committee on Women Affairs, noting that women and girls make up a significant percentage of Nigeria’s population and therefore require focused attention to drive national development. She added that although the Ministry leads the country’s social protection mandate, it continues to face operational challenges, including delays in implementing the 2024 and 2025 budgets.
She raised further concerns about poor coordination within the women affairs sector, explaining that development partners often operate without proper alignment, resulting in duplication of efforts, waste of scarce resources, and difficulty tracking funds intended for vulnerable groups.
Chairperson of the House Committee on Women Affairs, Hon. Kafilat Ogbara, urged the Ministry to fully deliver on its mandate of advancing gender equality and protecting women and girls. She stressed the need to scrutinize releases, expenditure, and utilization to guarantee that every allocation contributes meaningfully to improving the lives of Nigerian women and girls.
