By Sarah NEGEDU
The decision to establish a Women Affairs Secretariat in the Federal Capital Territory Administration is already drawing global attention, as the Canadian Embassy in Nigeria on Tuesday, applauded the efforts, saying it will help address challenges affecting women and children.
The FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, had on October 13th, announced that President Ahmed Tinubu, had given approval for the establishment of a Women Affairs Secretariat, taking the number of Secretariat to 8.
The newly established Secretariat, Wike said is aimed at giving women in the FCT a sense of belonging and also carry them along in the Renewed Hope agenda of Mr. President.
Commending the efforts, the High Commissioner of Canada to Nigeria, His Excellency, James Chrisoff, expressed his country’s interest in improving opportunities for young women and girls in the FCT.
Chrisoff, who stated this during a courtesy visit to the FCT Minister, noted that Canada has strong diplomatic relations with Nigeria, with Nigerians in diaspora providing the necessary bridge between both countries.
He said his country was also interested in partnering with Nigeria in the area of Agriculture, as was articulated by President Tinubu at the ongoing Nigerian Economic Summit.
Earlier, the FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, while welcoming the High Commissioner, assured foreign missions and other investors of improved security, as security agencies are working around the clock to that the environment remains safe.
He said the establishment of a Joint Taskteam on One-chance robbers, has helped address the menace, as no incident has been recorded since the team began operation.
He added that the President has put modalities in place to ensure that the Renewed Hope agendas is felt across the country, adding that alot of development is already going in the FCT in this regard.
“Security has improved in the FCT. Security agencies have been working round the clock to ensure that the environment remains safe. For instance, the issue of one-chance, we set up a joint taskforce and they have been working round the clock, since then no incidence has been recorded.
“The Renewed Hope agenda of Mr. President is to retore Hope to our people. The President has put modalities in place to ensure that people’s hope is renewed. So much activities is going on in Abuja.
“We are focused on our drive to increase our Internally Generated Revenue, IGR, so we can carry out other development. So we encourage corporate bodies, foreign missions to fulfil their tax obligations.”
The pioneer Secretary of Women Affairs Secretariat, Mrs Adedayo Laniyi, was inaugurated on Tuesday, with a charge from the FCT Minister to come up with workable modalities that will help the secretariat kick off operations.