21st December, 2010
As the world marked the International Poverty Alleviation Day, the Lagos State Government has vowed to tackle the rising wave of poverty among women in the state.
Commissioner for Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, WAPA, Mrs. Joke Orelope-Adefulire, who spoke at at the Women Development Centre, Agege, Lagos, southwest Nigeria, to mark the day, decried the rate of poverty among women.
According to her, the day was set aside by the United Nations to honour victims of extreme poverty, violence and hunger, lamenting that poverty among women had resulted in the lack of basic human needs, qualitative health care, limited opportunities and violation of dignity.
“Poverty goes beyond the inability to afford three square meals; it includes lack of basic human needs, clean water, nutrition, good and adequate health care, qualitative education, clothing and shelter.
“Fundamentally, many forget that poverty can lead to denial of choices, limited opportunities and violation of human dignity. In all these, women and children are the common victims,†she stated.
“Many are faced today with limited basic capacity and capability to participate effectively in family, social and economic development as a result of poverty. It creates a situation whereby people lack enough to feed and cloth themselves, people are unable to provide for and support their families; the education of their children and lack access to quality medical care,†she added.
She said when some or a combination of the above happened to majority of the populace, especially women, it often resulted in social and economic insecurity, political weakness, lack of sense of belonging and general withdrawal from community participation and growth.
“In our environment today, many of the domestic violence, mostly against women, are poverty induced. Unemployment and other social pressures associated with poverty have made many men to visit such frustration on their wives and children,†she said.
Orelope-Adefulire further said poverty had made it impossible for women to participate effectively in social and economic development of the family and community, assuring women of the governmentâ€
Also, the commissioner explained that in conjunction with selected Micro Finance Banks, government is providing loans to deserving small scale business women in the state.
The commissioner said the present administration would remain focused by increasing investment in human and institutional capacity with the hope of turning out highly trained graduates for the state.
Delivering papers at the occasion, the guest speaker, Professor Sunday Owualah, opined that empowering the poor through micro and small enterprises promotion had the potential for creating a market-friendly environment for women to actualise the desire for self employment and financial security for their families.
Noting that women often prove to be more financially responsible, Owalah stated that women were more likely than men to invest in increased income, hence the need to encourage them.