NIGERIA: Gender Equity - Youth Leader Seeks More Investment in Women, Girls

Mr Abubakar Bachaka, the Chief Whip of the Nigerian Youth Parliament, has said that investing in women and girls can help to promote gender equity in Nigeria.

Backaka made the statement in Abuja on Monday in a telephone interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).

He said women's rights were guaranteed by the law and as such gender discrimination and violence against them violated their fundamental human rights, equity, justice and good governance.

He identified traditional acts, such as female genital mutilation, child marriage, widowhood practices, among others, as forms of discrimination and violence against women.

Backaka called for more investment in women in the area of education and proper health care delivery to promote gender equity in Nigeria.

He said: "violence against women is the most discriminating form of gender inequality in Nigeria.

"It is important for governments at all levels to invest more in women and the girl child, as means to achieve growth of gender equity.

"Gender discrimination can affect the girl-child and women throughout their lifetime; they are often the ones that suffer most.

"This is not a problem of Northern Nigeria versus Southern Nigeria; it is a national issue which governments must tackle to strengthen the nation building process.

"Investing in women and girls will help to increase the nation's productive capacity and boost sustainable gender equity," he said.

Backaka advised governments to make laws to punish people indulging in discrimination and violence against women to serve as deterrent.

"Law has a major role to play in ensuring social change and should be seen as a catalyst in development of our citizenry, especially women and children.

"Governments must establish laws to protect women and girl-child," he said.

Backaka said plans were underway by the parliament to organise a seminar to promote the fight against discrimination and violence against women.