Nigeria has lauded the European Union (EU) for its unwavering support in the battle against gender-based violence, as a substantial allocation of twenty-five million euros (€25,000,000) has been earmarked to bolster this crucial cause. The commendation was expressed by the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Sen. Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, during his address at the handover ceremony of the Spotlight Initiative Nigeria country programme in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital.
The minister, represented by the Director of the International Cooperation Department, Dr. Lanre Adekanye, emphasized the significant milestones achieved by the Spotlight Initiative in Nigeria. He attributed this success to the unwavering commitment of stakeholders and partners, along with the extensive education on various forms of violence targeting women and girls. Furthermore, he pledged unequivocal support from the ministry for similar programs aimed at upholding and amplifying the impact of the Spotlight Initiative, recognizing women and girls as pivotal agents of development and change in any society.
In a statement, the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator, Matthias Schmale, expressed gratification towards the federal government, civil society groups, the women’s movement, and youth organizations for their leadership and dedication to fostering a world free from violence targeting women and girls. Highlighting the Initiative’s nomenclature, he emphasized its steadfast focus on the issue of gender-based violence and underscored the tangible advancements since its inception in 2019.
As the EU-funded EU-UN @GlobalSpotlight Initiative draws to a close, Mr. Schmale emphasized the imperative of safeguarding the commitments made to ensure sustained impacts. He underscored the Initiative’s instrumental role in driving legal and policy transformations, providing essential services to nearly 16,500 women and girls at its facilities, and cultivating alliances with traditional rulers and religious leaders.
European Union Ambassador to Nigeria and ECOWAS, H.E Amb. Samuela Isopi, articulated that the program in Nigeria pursued a holistic approach that congregated all stakeholders, yielding pivotal outcomes. She revealed that nearly all states in Nigeria had ratified the Child’s Right Act, marking it as the fastest bill to be passed at the national level in the nation’s history. She affirmed the EU’s unwavering commitment to the rule of law and anti-corruption initiatives, underscoring the continued prioritization of women’s rights and inclusion across various sectors, including girls’ education, maternal health, women’s economic empowerment, and political representation.
