In the face of Nigeria's deepening economic crisis, the Nigerian Economic Summit Group has emerged as a bold voice, calling for a transformative shift in the country's approach to tackling poverty. At the heart of their vision lies a pivotal realization: the path to eradicating poverty must be paved with the advancement of gender equality.
Tayo Aduloju, the Chief Executive Officer of NESG, sounded the alarm during a press conference in Abuja, painting a stark picture of Nigeria's current reality. He revealed that a staggering two-thirds of Nigerians are trapped in the grip of multidimensional poverty, lacking access to essential services such as healthcare, education, and clean cooking fuels. Furthermore, the 2023 Global Hunger Index ranks Nigeria a dismal 109th out of 125 countries, indicating severe levels of hunger, with women, girls, and persons with disabilities bearing the brunt of this crisis.
Aduloju's remarks underscored a critical disparity – the significant gender gap in labor force participation, with 65.5% of men versus 52.1% of women actively engaged in the workforce. This imbalance, he argued, is a key contributor to the entrenched poverty that plagues the nation.
In response, the NESG has set its sights on a bold and visionary approach, placing gender equality at the heart of its poverty reduction strategy. Osasuyi Dirisu, the executive director at the Policy Innovation Center at NESG, emphasized the urgent need for conceptual and local solutions to address the multifaceted challenges of poverty across Nigeria.
The centerpiece of NESG's initiative is the upcoming Gender and Inclusion Summit, themed Reimagining Gender-Inclusive Pathways and Partnerships for Poverty Reduction. This landmark event aims to bring together a diverse array of stakeholders to collectively devise strategies for a more inclusive and equitable future.
Adedotun Esan, the Chair of the Local Organizing Committee, underscored the untapped potential of Nigerian women, who own 41% of micro-businesses and account for 23 million female entrepreneurs, a figure that surpasses the global average of 21%. However, she acknowledged the persistent societal and cultural barriers, including gender-based violence, limited education, and prevalent slavery, that continue to hinder women's progress.
The NESG's bold stance reflects a growing recognition that sustainable economic development cannot be achieved without addressing the deep-rooted inequalities that plague Nigerian society. By placing gender equality at the forefront of their poverty reduction efforts, the organization aims to unlock the transformative power of women's empowerment, unleashing a ripple effect that will reverberate across the nation.
As Nigeria grapples with the daunting challenges of poverty and hunger, the NESG's visionary approach offers a glimmer of hope. Through the upcoming Gender and Inclusion Summit and its commitment to implementing contextually relevant solutions, the organization stands poised to spearhead a new era of inclusive growth, where the dreams and aspirations of all Nigerians, regardless of gender, can be realized.
