Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up (DUSUSU), Foundation has honoured Sadiya Umar-Farouq, Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development with “Gender Minister Award” in recognition of her achievements.
Ms Zuriel Oduwole and her DUSUSU Foundation while presenting the award on Tuesday, in Abuja said that the award became necessary considering the minister’s numerous contributions to gender issues.
In her remarks, Umar-Farouq said that “there are very few occasions in the course of one’s mission where one is able to pause and take stock of what one has achieved.
“This event today, where Ms Zuriel Oduwole and her DUSUSU Foundation have chosen to honour the modest work of my humble self and my Ministry, clearly provides one such occasion,” she said.
- FG set to launch National Humanitarian Development Peace Framework
- President Buhari expresses solidarity against gender-based violence
”The Gender Minister Award may, at first glance, seems surprising to be awarded to myself as the honourable Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development.
“However, taken as a whole, along with all the programmes under my purview, we have made a conscious effort to mainstream gender considerations and ensure that women are enabled to be change makers in their immediate communities and beyond.”
She noted that her work in the ministry was primarily focused on the vulnerable populations in Nigeria, across all regions, religious, ethnic and tribal lines.
She added that that the most affected of the vulnerable populations were women and children, saying that it was the ministry’s mission to empower these sections of the population through a variety of means, including economic buffers like the Conditional Cash Transfer.
Umar-Farouq said that Conditional Cash Transfer Programme had helped close to 2 million households with over 90 per cent of recipients being women.
“We also provide grants, for example; the Cash Grant for Rural Women and training and skills development through the N-Power Scheme, which has provided training and jobs for over 1.7 million young Nigerians, many of whom are women.
“We provide micro-loans and credit schemes through our Government Enterprise and Empowerment Programme (GEEP) and incorporate women along the entire supply chain of our National Home – Grown School Feeding Programme (NHGSFP).
“Our programmes are focused on interventions to provide a sustainable pathway out of the cycle of poverty the poor and vulnerable Nigerians find themselves in.”
She, therefore, appreciated DUSUSU team for their abiding commitment to bringing key issues to the fore and for their resilience in bringing change to fruition.
She said that “in order for the desired change to occur, it was important for all of us in our various roles to ‘Dream Up, Speak Up, Stand Up’ as the acronym of the foundation’s name states.
“It seems appropriate at this point to remind all of us present here today to always keep in mind that the individual work we do in our respective roles and collectively together has an impact far beyond ourselves. Through our collaborative efforts.
“And, with a spirit of sincere cooperation, we can and shall continue to change the lives of millions of our fellow countrymen and women for the better.
“It is my earnest hope and desire that we remain committed to the hard work ahead of us as we continue to forge ahead in the days and years to come,” Umar-Farouq said.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the ministry, Bashir Alkali, said that Umar-Farouq had undoubtedly employed tenacity, hard-work, resilience, doggedness, passion and compassion in her sojourn as a Humanitarian Actor in Africa and as a Public Officer.
Alkali said that the minister had indeed made giant strides in the area of Gender Development.
“Her firm resolve in applying Gender Equity in all the Social Investment Programmes and Humanitarian Interventions of the Ministry confirms how passionate she is at ensuring that women are adequately represented and actively involved in National Development.
“Under the able leadership of the minister the well- being of women and girls is placed on the front burner of all our humanitarian interventions.
“Bearing in mind that women and girls are the most vulnerable in the wake of disasters and humanitarian crisis.
“The presentation of the DUSUSU Award today is an evidence of her remarkable efforts to ensure that the President’s vision of lifting 100 million Nigerians out of poverty in 10 years is achieved through the active participation of women,” he added.
While congratulating the minister for yet another worthy recognition of her achievements, Alkali commended DUSUSU Foundation for the Award.
“I must commend the DUSUSU Foundation for the enormous work they are doing in Africa towards girl child education and women development.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the founder of Zuriel Oduwole is an inspiring young lady who is creating positive change and giving girls across Africa a chance to get educated.
The Award distinguishes African Women who have shown commendable work in the area of Girls Education and or Gender Development issues.(NAN)
