By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
The Ministry of Women Affairs is collaborating with the Niger State House of Assembly Speaker have taken U- turn to empower orphan girls through various initiatives as a way of improving their lives.
The Minister of Women Affairs, Barr. Uju Kennedy – Ohaneye who disclosed on Friday in her office in Abuja while giving an Update on the Ministry’s position about the mass wedding in Niger State.
Kennedy -Ohanenye said that the empowerment initiative is to halt the traditional and religious institution’s idea of giving away orphan girls through mass wedding.
She stated that the Ministry will ever remain steadfast in the implementation of its mandate, especially in the area of the protection of the lives of women, children and the vulnerable in line with the policy thrust of the present administration.
Kennedy-Ohanenye informed further that the intervention has provided a solution to the court injunction earlier filed by the Ministry halting the marriage until thorough investigation is carried out on the children, especially their ages and preparedness for the marriage.
According to the minister, the ministry is partnering with the Speaker in steps towards improving the lives of the children through the deployment of various initiatives such as formal education, skills acquisition and provision of tools that meet with their specified areas of interest.
She noted that with the partnership, the orphans have now become part of the Ministry’s family.
“I have taken the village as a job, I’m promising Nigerians that I will make sure I will not fall their hands, I am going to empower them with sustainable economic empowerment.”
“I’m going to onboard them on our portal, and whatever the Federal Government is doing for every other person, all of them will get, the Ministry will not abandon them”, she assured.
Kennedy -Ohanenye commended the Etsu Nupe, Alh Yahaya Abubakar, the Emir of Kotangora, Alh Mohammed Barau Muazu and the religious institutions for their intervention towards the resolution of the matter.
She also appealed to Nigerians to join hands with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration in its efforts to improve the lives of Nigerian women, children and the vulnerable for the betterment of the nation
The Minister has commended Nigerians for their understanding, patience, and support towards the initiatives, programmes and projects embarked upon by the Ministry.
