House of Reps Committee on Women Affairs Commences Two-Day Assessment Visit to Edo State

By Rosemary Okoduwa

A delegation from the House of Representatives Committee on Women Affairs, led by the Director/Clerk (Team Lead), Hajia Aishatu Inusa, paid a courtesy visit to the Edo State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development as part of its two-day assessment visit to the state.

Speaking during the visit, Hajia Inusa explained that the exercise was an assessment rather than an interrogation, aimed at evaluating the implementation of the second phase of the Jewels of Hope and Development in Nigeria programme and the collaboration between the Ministry and the Office of the First Lady. She noted that the assessment would help identify Edo State’s best practices for possible replication in other states.

She further disclosed that the team would undertake field inspections to assess projects firsthand, noting that while the Ministry is funded through government budgetary allocations, the Office of the First Lady delivers interventions through humanitarian initiatives.

Welcoming the delegation, the Honourable Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Development, Hon. (Mrs.) Eugenia Abdallah, expressed appreciation to the Committee for its oversight function and reaffirmed the Ministry’s commitment to improving the welfare of women, children, older persons, persons with disabilities, and other vulnerable groups. She highlighted ongoing programmes focused on women’s empowerment, child protection, social welfare, and the prevention of gender-based violence.

She also underscored the Ministry’s collaboration with development partners, civil society organisations, security agencies, the judiciary, and healthcare providers, while calling for sustained support to meet the growing demand for protection services and rehabilitation programmes.

Following the meeting, the delegation, accompanied by the Commissioner, Permanent Secretary, Directors, and other Ministry officials, inspected key facilities, including the Vivian Sexual Assault Referral Centre (SARC), where the Centre Manager, Dr. Faith Edebor, conducted a guided tour of the facility.

The team also visited the Edo State Migration Agency, where the Director General, Hon. Chief Lucky Agazuma, presented the agency’s efforts in addressing migration-related challenges, before proceeding to the Children’s Correctional Centre at Ugbekun, Upper Sakponba Road.

The delegation concluded the day’s tour at farmland allocated to female farmers through the Office of the First Lady, coordinated by Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani and facilitated by the Integrated Farmers Association of Nigeria. Beneficiaries expressed appreciation to the Edo State Government for providing access to farmland and improved livelihood opportunities, demonstrating their harvest of cassava as evidence of the programme’s impact.

The assessment visit continues with further engagements aimed at strengthening collaboration and enhancing programmes that improve the lives of women, children, and other vulnerable persons across Edo State.