Nigeria’s First Women’s Economic Empowerment Law Drafted by ECOWA, WEFON, and Edo State Govt

The Echoes of Women in Africa (ECOWA) Initiatives and Women For Fairness and Equity Organisation (WEFON), in partnership with Urgent Action Fund Africa and the Edo State government, have embarked on a groundbreaking endeavor. Together, they have crafted a legislative bill that will pave the way for the first women’s economic empowerment rights law in Nigeria.

Titled ‘A Bill for Economic Empowerment Affirmative Action for Urban Poor and Rural Women in Edo State,’ this legislation marks a significant step towards gender equality and women’s development.

During a sensitization workshop held in Benin City, Louisa Eikhomun-Agbonkhese, Founder of ECOWA, praised Governor Godwin Obaseki and his wife, Betsy, for their unwavering commitment to women’s empowerment. Citing the state’s existing efforts in engaging women through various economic empowerment programs, including the N2 billion MSMEs fund and conditional cash transfers, Eikhomun-Agbonkhese highlighted the urgent need for a policy addressing the economic rights of women.

She emphasized that the proposed law aligns with international conventions such as the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW), the Women’s Protocol of the African Charter of Human and Peoples Rights on the Rights of Women and Optional Protocol, the Sustainable Development Goal five on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment, as well as the Nigerian Constitution and the National Gender Policy.

Andrew Adaze Ewanta, Commissioner for Youth and Gender Issues, underscored the crucial role of women’s economic empowerment and financial inclusion in achieving the 2030 agenda for sustainable development. Ewanta highlighted the challenges faced by women in accessing formal financial products and services, as well as their limited opportunities for decent work, often trapped in exploitative and low-income jobs.

Investing in women’s economic empowerment not only reduces poverty but also advances gender equality. By supporting women to access financial services, engage in dignified work, and thrive as entrepreneurs and producers, the path to creating better livelihoods, boosting incomes, and job creation is established.

The workshop witnessed the participation of government officials, lawmakers, lawyers, civil society organizations, financial institutions, women’s groups, custodians of traditions, religious bodies, and youth groups, indicating the wide-ranging support for this collaborative effort to empower women and dismantle discriminatory norms and systems.