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| Mrs Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye |
Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, has once again intervened in an event in Abuja, this time criticizing the organizers for proceeding without her approval and failing to include meaningful empowerment programs.
In a viral video, Kennedy-Ohanenye is seen addressing the attendees at a validation workshop for the third-generation national action plan (2024-2029) on the UN Security Council Resolution (UNSCR). The event, jointly organized by the federal ministry of women affairs and UN Women, was disrupted shortly after it began.
The minister expressed strong dissatisfaction with the event, arguing that it did not directly benefit the people and was another example of wasteful spending. "Let this be the last time women affairs will organise anything that I am not aware of. You try next time, I will come here and get you people disgraced," she warned.
Kennedy-Ohanenye emphasized her commitment to ensuring that all programs under her ministry include tangible empowerment components. She criticized the frequent organization of workshops and seminars that, in her view, lack real impact on the lives of women and the broader population. "Few weeks ago, there was a hunger protest and they talked about peace and security. Women are not empowered. Children are suffering. Nigerians are suffering, but we waste money all the time on frivolous things," she stated.
The minister also questioned the effectiveness of current approaches to addressing issues like peace, security, and poverty. "When talking about peace and security with poverty, how can you solve it? You keep talking, doing workshops. With poverty, where are we heading to? How do we solve that poverty by directing money to the wrong channels that don’t make an impact on humans?" she argued.
Kennedy-Ohanenye reiterated her stance on accountability and the proper use of government funds, saying, "If you hear the monies the government gives out to ministries, you will be shocked. Why should it continue like that? Why should we fold our hands and these things will continue? Who do you think will save you? It’s you that will save yourself. Let them call me names, troublemaker, ‘mad woman,’ I am ready to take it."
Hear her:
“Let this be the last time women affairs will organise anything that I am not aware of. You try next time; I will come here and get you people disgraced,” the minister said.
I know what I am going through in this country. For a while, this is what we keep on organising.
“Few weeks ago, there was a hunger protest, and they talked about peace and security. Women are not empowered.
“Children are suffering. Nigerians are suffering, but we waste money all the time on frivolous things that don’t make sense.
“Many people may misunderstand me, but I am ready to be misunderstand. I am ready to be tortured. I am ready. I have changed the narrative; I said no programme without empowerment.
“You are talking about peace and security. With poverty, how can you solve it? You keep talking, doing workshops.
“With poverty, where are we heading to? How do we solve that poverty by directing money to the wrong channels that don’t make an impact on humans? On those people you want them to change and give you peace.
“I have changed the narrative. I said do not do any programme without empowerment. They give money to the ministries, and it is used for travel and programmes.
“Nothing that will impact the nation. If you hear the money the government gives out to ministries, you will be shocked.
“Why should it continue like that? Why should we fold our hands and these things will continue? Who do you think will save you? It’s you that will save yourself. Let them call me names, troublemaker,’ ‘mad woman,’ ‘I am ready to take it.’
“It’s not today. I told them that you can’t bring N100m and use it to do programme. That is the fact, that over N100 million is used for programmes. I said they should always use half to empower the women, then use the other half to do your programme.”
This incident follows a similar disruption by the minister 22 days earlier, where she intervened in an event titled “Unveiling the Power of Women and Food Security,” which she claimed was held without the Ministry’s approval.
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