By Tony Obiechina, Abuja

The United Nations Women (UN Women) Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, at the weekend revealed that private sector operators in Nigeria have begun the mobilisation of $25million in a bid to fight gender based violence in Nigeria.Beatrice Eyong disclosed this at the Women’s Economic Empowerment Through Affirmative Procurement in Africa in Abuja.

She explained that the development of a private sector Gender Based Violence Fund in Nigeria was the first of its kind in Africa. While enumerating some of the milestones recorded by UN Women Nigeria in collaboration with other key stakeholders, she said, “we have made significant progress in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in Nigeria, which has resulted in the development of a National Women’s economic empowerment policy, the first of its kind in Nigeria, the approval of an affirmative procurement policy in Kaduna State, the development of a private sector GBV fund and so far private sector in the country has Mobilized $25m.”Speaking on the essence of the event, Eyong said: “At this open day, our dialogues will focus on Women’s Economic Empowerment through Affirmative Procurement in Africa, the challenges identified, the key achievements highlighted by country offices, the policy environment needed to stimulate women’s access to public procurement opportunities, and the role of the private sector in transforming economies and pioneering change.Earlier in his remarks, Permanent Secretary in the Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Dr. Vitalis Emeka Obi, assured that the Ministry would adopt gender responsive budgeting and build capacities of budget desk officers on implementing Gender Responsive Budgets in various Ministries, Departments and Agencies of government.He pointed out that the marginalisation of women and girls has become a significant barrier to progress in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment in Nigeria.