The 21st Regular National Council Meeting on Women Affairs began Monday at Ibom Hall, Uyo, the Akwa Ibom State capital, with a focus on issues bordering on women, children and vulnerable groups.
The five-day meeting had delegates drawn across the 36 states of the federation, including the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja.
The theme of the forum is Gender Equality: A Panacea for Ensuring Security and Sustainable Economic Recovery in the Post COVID-19 Era.
Addressing the technical session, Adebiyi Olufunso, the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, recalled with relish the results recorded during the 19th and 20th editions of the meeting held in Akure and Abuja.
Olufunso said the meeting is an annual event to provide a convenient platform to take policy decisions, initiate programmes and activities that will improve the lives and livelihood of women, children and vulnerable groups.
An engineer, he said: “The theme is significant at this time given our desire for a secure, peaceful, equitable and just society where women and the girl-child will attain their potential and contribute to the building of the nation.
“The council meeting will deliberate on matters affecting women, children and the other vulnerable groups for informed decision making. It is also an avenue for experience and expertise sharing to address other emerging issues affecting our target groups.
“This technical session is designed as formative ground for us to examine the policy initiatives and programmes hitherto submitted for council’s consideration.
“We will also at this meeting review challenges and lessons learnt from activities implementation and discuss the way forward to ensure we achieve set targets upholding best practices.”
A total of 185 memoranda were received for consideration, according to him.
Meanwhile, the Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Paulen Tallen and Akwa Ibom governor Udom Emmanuel will grace the official opening of the meeting on Thursday, August 26.
.
