Minister of Women Affairs, Barrister Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye has said that young Nigerians are central to promoting national development and must therefore break all barriers impeding socio-economic growth.
She made this known at the 2023 annual summit of the Nigerian Bar Association Young Lawyers organised to address and raise public consciousness on the need for collective efforts towards removing social vices, abnormal practices and policies which have negatively affected our collective drive towards nation building, weekend in Port Harcourt.
The minister who was guest speaker at the summit themed ‘Breaking the Barriers’, advocated for all hands to be on deck towards breaking those barriers that have impeded the quest for socio-economic advancement as a nation, over the years.
“We need to break the barrier if we must move forward as a country, there is one thin line of barrier which we need to break and that is the barrier of non-inclusivity of women in politics but how do we include the women in decision making when only 10 percent of women presently own properties in the country,? That is to say that only 10 percent of women are eligible to join politics for now”
“I was personally attracted to be at this summit when I noticed that it is been organized by young lawyers. We need the younger generation to change the narratives on the way we run our country.
“I wish to invite the young lawyers to partner with my Ministry, the Women Affairs” she said.
A communique signed by her Special Assistant on Media, Ohaeri Joseph, Kennedy-Ohaneye notes that women are naturally endowed with potentials to serve as key players in nation building but this can only be possible when they are empowered and given the voice as major stakeholders in national development.
She frowned at the nation’s judicial process which she alleges is bereft of proper application of the rule of law.
“Part of the ways we address the issue of poverty in Nigeria is when the issues of man’s inhumanity to man and selfishness are removed in the scheme of things. The rule of law should apply to everybody without sentiments.
“During my recent visit to a Correctional Centre, I saw women who were serving jail terms for just N20,000.00 fine and had to pay N395,000.00 for the release of about 35 inmates including men.
“Just because some people have connection, their crimes are swept under the carpet and that is unfair and injustice. Nigeria will be better if the rule of law is applied accordingly” she also said.
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