FG Initiates Empowerment For Niger 100 “Orphan Girls”, Planned Mass Wedding Aborted

By Ayodele Oni

After much pressure and intervention by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs, the planned mass wedding of a-100 female orphans in Niger state has been shelved.

The Speaker of Niger State House of Assembly, Abdulmalik Sarkin-Daji, had planned to marry-off 100 orphaned girls to assist them.

Following the interventions by Traditional and Religious institutions from Niger State on the matters surrounding the mass wedding, the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs has expressed its readiness to partner with the Speaker of the State House of Assembly to improve their lives through various initiatives.

Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye disclosed this  in her office while giving an update on the Ministry’s position about the mass wedding.

She informed that the Ministry will ever remain steadfast in the implementation of its mandate, especially in the area of the protection of the lives of women, children and the vulnerable in line with the policy thrust of the present administration.

Kennedy-Ohanenye informed further that the intervention has provided a solution to the court injunction earlier filed by the Ministry halting the marriage until thorough investigation is carried out on the children, especially their ages and preparedness for the marriage.

She stated that both the Ministry and the Speaker have now agreed to partner, with a view to improving the lives of the children through the deployment of various initiatives such as formal education, skills acquisition, as well as provision of tools that meet with their specified areas of interest.

The Minister noted that with the partnership, the orphans have now become part of the Ministry’s family.

“I have taken the village as a job, I’m promising Nigerians that  I will make sure I will not fall their hands, I am going to empower them with sustainable economic empowerment.

“I’m going to onboard them on our portal, and whatever the Federal Government is doing for every other person, all of them will get, the Ministry will not abandon them.”

While commending the Etsu Nupe, Alhaji Yahaya Abubakar, Emir of Kotangora, Alhaji Mohammed Barau Muazu, as well as religious institutions for their intervention towards the resolution of the matter, Kennedy-Ohanenye appealed to Nigerians to join hands with the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Administration in its determination to improve the lives of Nigerian women, children and the vulnerable for the betterment of the nation.

The Minister further commended Nigerians for their understanding, patience, and support towards the initiatives, programmes and projects embarked upon by the Ministry.