By; FUNMI ADERINTO, Kaduna
The Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Deputy Governor, Dr. Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe has said that the state is firmly committed to promoting gender equality and women’s empowerment in all aspects of its development agenda.
Dr Hadiza Sabuwa Balarabe stated this at the Private Sector Forum on Gender Responsive Supply Chains in Kaduna State, organized by the UN Women in collaboration with African Development Bank (AfDB) and Zamani Foundation.
According to the Deputy Governor, the administration of Senator Uba Sani believes that empowering women is not only a matter of right, but also a good economic strategy that can boost growth, reduce poverty, and enhance social cohesion.
“Our administration led by Governor Uba Sani shares the same belief with UN Women, African Development Bank and Zamani Foundation that gender responsive procurement can have a positive effect in the value chain through inclusive sourcing and supplier diversity,” Dr Balarabe said.
Kaduna Deputy Governor said the private sector forum which focused on Gender Responsive Supply Chains, which is part of UN Women programme on Women Economic Empowerment Through Affirmative Procurement in West Africa, supports women economic empowerment through policy reforms, public sector institutional strengthening, and capacity building of women-owned/women-led businesses to access procurement opportunities in some countries in West Africa including Nigeria.
She affirmed the continued support of the state government in promoting women empowerment through policies, programmes, legislations, and other activities that would ensure that women’s lots are improved.
She added that on October 28, 2022, Kaduna State Government, in collaboration with UN Women and the Norwegian Government, inaugurated three programmes aimed at increasing support for gender equality and women empowerment in the state.
“The programmes focused on women, peace, and security; advancement of women’s participation in politics and affirmative procurement in Nigeria; and the HeForShe campaign in the state.
“I want to reiterate the remark I made that day thus: “If we want to make progress as a country, we must liberate half of our population, which consists of women, from being undermined, underutilized and de-humanized.”
“That is why we are very interested in the AfDB-UN Women programme titled, “Women Economic Empowerment through Affirmative Procurement in West Africa”. We believe that this programme can make significant difference in the lives of many women entrepreneurs and workers in Kaduna State and beyond,” she said.
The Deputy Governor assured UN Women and all bodies involved in championing the projects of Kaduna State Government’s readiness to work with all relevant stakeholders to ensure effective implementation and impact of the programme.
She called on women business owners in the state to register with the Kaduna State Public Procurement Authority as the agency implementing the project in the state.
Earlier, Director General, Kaduna State Public Procurement Authority, Engineer Sanusi Aminu Yero said the agency has drafted a policy framework for the state and is carrying out sensitization to relevant stakeholders across the state for the smooth implementation of the Affirmative Procurement Reform in Kaduna State.
