The British Department

For International Development (DFID), has urged the federal government to invest more in raising the productivity of women in the country.

An official of the organisation, Dr Katja Jobes made the call in Enugu last Friday at a Gender Policy Dialogue organised by the World Bank, DFID and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs.

Jobes said Nigerian women had the potential to productively engage in the economic sector as much as the men folk.

She stressed the need to empower women economically and politically to enable them contribute more effectively to national development.

Jobes commended the government for being gender sensitive and described Nigeria as Africa’s engine of growth.

The Deputy Gov. of Enugu State, Mr Sunday Onyebuchi said while declaring open the event that the outcome of the dialogue would help in improving governance in the state.

A World Bank representative, Mrs Juliana Oyegun emphasised the need to remove all barriers hindering women from participating in national development.

According to Oyegun, there are gaps in some of the laws in the country that affect women adversely, saying it is important to bridge those gaps.

Presenting a paper on economic empowerment of women, a former Governorship candidate of National Conscience Party, Chief Loretta Aniagolu urged women to learn to do things on their own.

“We have all the laws and opportunities in Nigeria. All we need is to train and re-orientate the women in economic activities, “ she said.

Justice Chibueze Nnamani of Customary Court of Appeal presented a paper on ‘Access to Justice’ and observed that most women do not utilise the courts when their rights were infringed upon.

Nnamani called for the introduction of gender rights education in schools as well as mass education programme for illiterate women.

The event was attended by representatives of Civil Society Organisations, traditional and religious leaders.