The United Nations (UN) women have commended Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state for his efforts at ensuring the inclusiveness and greater participation of women in politics in the state.
The UN Women in a commendation letter to the governor dated January 26, 2021, and signed by UN Women Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Comfort Lamptey, particularly commended the governor for giving opportunities to women to harness their contributions in governance at the local government level.
They commended the governor for building an inclusive and gender-sensitive local governance system in Kogi state through the appointment of women as vice-chairpersons in all the 21 local government areas of the state.
“I would further like to thank you for pushing forward the global agenda on gender equality and women’s political participation in Nigeria. In this same vein, I would be honoured to pay you a courtesy visit in the week beginning Monday, February 1, 2021, to discuss opportunities for supporting the ongoing efforts of your government to promote women’s empowerment and gender equality in Kogi state, and also to explore possibilities for partnership and collaboration to support the newly-appointed women deputy chairpersons of councils to succeed in their new roles.
“To facilitate follow-up interactions, UN Women would welcome the opportunity to engage with a nominated focal person from your office,” the letter reads.
In another development, co-founder of Microsoft, Mr Bill Gate, has corroborated the position of Governor Yahaya Bello who said last month that what Nigeria needs was a heavy investment on healthcare infrastructure instead of devoting billions of naira to the procurement of Covid-19 vaccines.
Gate while responding to questions from prominent media houses across Africa on Tuesday said Nigeria does not need to spend too much on acquiring COVID-19 vaccines but should rather focus more on revitalising the weak and underfunded health sector, especially the primary health care centres across the country.
The minister of health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, had in December informed the Senate that Nigeria would require to vaccinate 70 per cent of Nigeria’s population at $8 per vaccine in the midst of other issues plaguing the health sector.
But Gates said, “There is no doubt that the impact of putting money into the health system particularly the primary healthcare system will be very high in terms of saving children’s lives.
“Nigeria should not divert the very limited money that it has for health into trying to pay a high price for COVID vaccines.”
