By YANGE IKYAA
The federal ministry of water resources has organized a one day workshop to develop the implemention of what it called “Guidelines and Action Plan for the Gender Mainstreaming Policy for the Water Sector.”
Themed “Gender Mainstreaming: A Pathway to Gender Equality in the Water and Allied Sectors,” the worksop held in Yenogoa, Bayelsa State, recently.
The permanent secretary of the ministry, Didi Esther Walson-Jack, on behalf of the minister of water resources, Suleiman Adamu, delivered the keynote address at the event.
She stated that the gender mainstreaming policy was a product of the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration, through the federal ministry of water resources, which aims to achieve gender equity, equality and to empower women and girls in the water sector.
Walson-Jack added that this policy is in line with a range of treaties, conventions and commitments towards greater gender equality in Nigeria. She also noted that the policy seeks to address existing barriers that hinder the equal participation of women and girls in accessing clean Water, Sanitation & Hygiene (WASH), as well as climate change management and control.
According to her, the overarching objective of the policy is to maximize the potential of all the existing policies, programmes and projects to drive inclusive growth and sustainable socio-economic development by paying special attention to the needs of women, men, youths, persons living with disabilities, as well as the elderly in the delivery of water sector services.
Explaining further, she said that the workshop would provide a veritable platform for stakeholders in the water sector to converge, brainstorm, update and validate the existing zero draft gender policy in line with global emerging trends, whilst equally directing energy towards articulating key measures that would set-out the specific roles, responsibilities, strategies, activities and indicators for effective implemention and monitoring of the policy across the sector.
The Executive Governor of Bayelsa State, His Excellency, Senator Duoye Diri, was represented at the occasion by the Secretary to State Government, Alabo Gideon Ekevwei.
In his speech, he stated that the government of Bayelsa was well pleased with the workshop and was in full support of the federal ministry of water resources, saying, “I’m driving this laudable initiative of development of implementation Guidelines for Gender Mainstreaming Policy of Government for Water Sector”.
He noted that the state government would go all out to support any policy that would encourage women empowerment towards attaining quality education that would aid in making informed decisions for the achievement of the socio-economic development of our nation rather than focussing on religional and pre-modal sentiments to define womanhood.
The commissioner, Bayelsa State ministry of water Resources, Wariebi Kemebaradikumor, reiterated that his ministry would support the implemention and development of mainstreaming policy guidelines that would positively impact the girl child.
The director, child development, ministry of women affairs, Panibi Jacob, represented the commissioner of women, children affairs empowerment and social development.
Faith Orubo Opene and president, FEMinWASH, Boluwaji Onabolu, gave goodwill messages at the event.
The director of irrigation and drainage FMWR, Esther Oyeronke Oluniyi: the Cordinator, Clean Nigeria Campaign, Mrs Chizoma Opara; director of water resources planning and technical support services, Mrs. Agnes Aneke; as well as the coordinator of CNC and other staff and stakeholders of the ministry, all witnessed the event.
