The Nigeria Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, has vowed to reform the ministry by addressing long-standing issues of financial mismanagement and redirecting efforts toward empowering women and children at the grassroots level.
During a visit to the acting Governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Oyeme, in Asaba, Ohanenye expressed frustration with how funds meant for women’s welfare have been mishandled in the past. She cited instances where loans amounting to millions of dollars were signed for projects that had little to no impact on those in need.
Her remarks come at a time when many Nigerians are grappling with economic hardship, despite the country’s vast resources.
She called for greater accountability and direct involvement in projects that can genuinely uplift those in need, stating that “Nigeria is full of milk and honey, and people are suffering.”
“I met a place where over N250 million was spent just for a meeting while women are suffering. There have been loans of up to $100 million, but all that’s been done is consultancies and advocacies, while our people continue to die of hunger and poverty,” the minister said.
Ohanenye, who has refused to sign a new $500 million loan, stressed that donors must focus on what Nigeria truly needs rather than flooding the country with funds for unnecessary projects. She pointed out that such funds, when placed in the wrong hands, only worsen the economy, making it harder for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to fix the system.
According to her, much of the loan’s value equivalent to N780 billion, would be wasted on consultancy fees and other administrative costs, leaving little for the actual project. “They are telling me they are bringing it for a women project. By the time all these things are done, you will not have up to $50 million or $100 million to deal with,” she stated.
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The Minister argued that many of the tools and machines needed to improve women’s lives are not expensive and do not require international loans of such magnitude. She also expressed concerns about the disconnect between those who claim to advocate for the poor and the actual beneficiaries. “Most times when they provide money and say it is for the poor, it still goes back to the rich,” she noted.
She highlighted the efficacy of some initiatives, particularly those aimed at tackling early marriage. She questioned why the rich, who do not practice early marriage, are the ones invited to such forums, rather than focusing on the poor, who are more affected.
“The rich do not give their children for marriage at a young age. But you do a programme, you call it for children or early marriage, and you bring the elites just to spend the money.”
“We can’t have security without curbing hunger and poverty. No matter what we do, until we fight these two, there cannot be security,” she said.
To address these challenges, the minister said she is focusing on grassroots engagement, including mobile courts that will deal with child hawkers and their families, providing reprimands as well as empowerment to mothers.
Mrs. Ohanenye also revealed her battles with international organizations and ministry officials, including a “tug of war” with the United States and the World Bank. Despite the opposition, she is committed to ensuring that funds are used effectively. She praised UNICEF for adopting action plans that align with her ministry’s objectives and noted that the implementation of these plans would now be led by the ministry itself.
“I want the narratives to change,” the minister stated firmly. “We are tired of things going to the wrong hands. I am working to ensure that the real beneficiaries of our programs, women and children are reached.”
In his response the acting governor of Delta State, Sir Monday Oyeme promised to provide all the necessary support to the ministry to help its programmes and initiatives succeed in the state.
He pointed out that the state has already established programmes that have hundreds of women in the state with various support schemes.
