By Derrick Bangura

Dame Pauline Tallen, Nigeria’s Minister of Women Affairs, has launched the 2022 International Women’s Day celebrations, with the theme ‘Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow.’

She presided over the event in her capacity as Minister of the Ministry, which is the apex National Gender Machinery tasked with initiating and developing programs and projects for the empowerment of women and children.
The Minister while briefing journalists in Abuja, on Tuesday evening, congratulated women all over the world and particularly Nigerian women for their immense contributions towards societal cohesion and national development, and highlighted the activities of the Ministry to mark the celebrations.

According to Tallen: “I want to congratulate all women across the world and particularly Nigerian women for their immense contributions towards societal cohesion and national development.

“This year’s theme ‘Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow’ highlights the contribution of women and girls around the world, who are leading the charge on climate change adaptation, mitigation, and response, to build a sustainable future for all.

“This aligns with the priority theme of for the upcoming 66th Session Commission on the Status of Women: ‘Achieving Gender Equality and the Empowerment of all Women and Girls in the context of Climate Change, Environmental and Disaster Risk Reduction Policies and Programs.

“While adopting the global theme, we will also address the following sub-themes in view of our peculiarities; ‘Women in Leadership and Governance’, ‘Women and the Environment as well as ‘Inclusion for women with disabilities.
“The theme for the 2022 IWD celebration resonates with the need for all stakeholders to take stock of the accomplishment of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action. As we continue to identify challenges and opportunities to achieve gender equality and empowerment of rural women and girls, we must ensure that activists join hands in transforming the lives of rural and urban women and girls in line with the Climate Change Conference (COP-26) Agreement as outlined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other International Regional Frameworks.

“In strengthening the role of women in biodiversity conservation and sustainable food and agricultural systems, we take into cognizance the commitment of the three Rio Conventions (Convention on Biodiversity; the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). To ensure that we truly succeed in our advocacy. We must adopt a rights-based, gender-sensitive approach to food research and agrobiodiversity for the purpose of achieving equitable access to land, resources, assets, and institutions towards equitable benefits.” She stated.
Tallen also expressed sadness over the recently rejected bill in the National Assembly that called for full and equitable participation of women in public life and leadership in Nigeria, despite the fact that Nigerian women account for 49.2 percent of the country’s estimated population of 200 million people in 2016 and the difference women can make in ushering in a new democratic era.
The Minister stated that there will be a Tree Planting Exercise on Friday, March 4, 2022, Governor Secondary School, Area 10 Garki, Abuja, and a Sunday Service on Sunday, March 6th, to commemorate the 2022 International Women’s Day. On March 8th, there will be a National Women’s Dialogue on Agender 2030 for Sustainable Development and Environmental Protection, as well as an Arts Exhibition on Women, Climate, and Leadership, as well as a Media Appearance at various media houses, to raise awareness and sensitization about the IWD and CSW.