Ene Oshaba
The Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA) Nigeria, has equipped 33 women rights/led organisations on gender responsive budgeting in Lagos state, South West Nigeria.
Its Country Vice/National President Amina Suzana Agbaje, in a statement made available Sunday, said the training was with support from UNWomen under the auspices of her spotlight initiative project on the 1st of June 2022.
According to the statement, the organisations were empowered to undertake more advocacy to the Lagos state House of Assembly, to demand for increased allocation on budgetary issues related to the wellbeing and protection of Women and Girls.
“The training had representatives from grassroots women rights/led organization, women rights advocates, and civil society activists.
“Mr Fikih Obaro, Program Manager, FIDA Nigeria facilitated this training and espoused participants on relevant gender issues and budgetary appropriations within the last three years in countering Gender Based Violence in the State,” the statement said.
The statement explained further that through the training, civil society actors were empowered on utilizing advocacy tools for mainstreaming same across various sectors in the state importance as it relates and protects their interests at the grass root, in order to allow for inclusion and equal participation in socio-economic/development within the community and state.
“The trained advocates further expressed commitments to stepping down the knowledge gained and mobilize other women groups, networks, associations, disability groups etc in advocacy to demand inclusion, mainstream gender needs in 2023 Lagos state budget and demand accountability from the relevant state actors thus mitigating Gender Based Prevalence in their local communities, state and Nation,” the statement added.