Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu has made a move to partner with the United Nations (UN) and its sister agencies to address the issues around child labour and out-of-school children phenomenon in the country.
Other areas the First Lady would want to touch in the partnership are increased women participation in economy and efforts geared at ending gender based violence.
Senator Oluremi spoke today, July 27, when the UN Resident and Humanitarian Coordinator in Nigeria, Matthias Schmale and his team paid her a courtesy visit at the Presidential villa, Abuja.
Senator Oluremi said that her office is ready to accept the UN offer, saying that she is passionate about the areas for which partnership is necessary.
She said that her National Programme, ‘Renewed Hope’ Initiative is also taking all the issues into cognizance.
“I want more women in the decision making positions like legislative arms, because if laws are not changed, this would be the same game continuously.
“But, are the women ready to sacrifice? We are the ones that need to stand to help ourselves.
“Education is very vital and I don’t believe that a woman cannot get all that she wants once she is educated.
Earlier, Matthias Schmale had promised on behalf of his organization, to collaborate with the office of the First Lady in the areas of Women and Children.
He said that the UN is aware of President Bola Tinubu’s stand on improving the economic situation of the country.
“One issue is the role of women in public life and we are very keen on it. We offer our support significantly in increasing the number of women in public life in Nigeria.
“Secondly, it is our understanding that the president has made the economy an important milestone, and again, we know that women play a key role in the economy considering food and security as a national emergency.
“We are ready to explore what more we can do to support the government and your excellency in increasing the role of women in the economy and revitalizing the economy.”
Schmale said that the UN would support the First Lady in ensuring that issues like polio, out-of-school children, child labour and violence against women are brought to the minimal level.
“The third issue is violent. Former President Mohammadu Buhari had 3-years ago, declared violence against women and children a national emergency. Again, we are offering support to the UN family in overcoming this emergency.
“There are issues around children that we think are of particular importance; the issue of school children out of learning environment and the issue of over 15 million children under the age of 14 in child labour in Nigeria. They obviously need attention.”
