In a recent video circulating on social media, the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, expressed her outrage over an event organized by her ministry without her knowledge or consent.
The event, which was criticized for lacking a focus on women’s empowerment, prompted Kennedy-Ohanenye to issue a stern warning to the organizers.
Key Points:
Event Disruption: Kennedy-Ohanenye interrupted the event, emphasizing her disapproval of the lack of empowerment components in the program.
Empowerment Mandate: The Minister stressed that any future events must include substantial empowerment activities for women, rather than mere seminars and workshops that do not address critical issues like poverty and hunger.
Financial Accountability: She criticized the wasteful expenditure on events that do not contribute to meaningful change, highlighting the need for judicious use of government funds.
Personal Resolve: Despite potential backlash, Kennedy-Ohanenye declared her readiness to be misunderstood and even criticized for her stance, emphasizing her commitment to changing the narrative and ensuring that government programs have a tangible impact on the lives of Nigerians.
Minister’s Statement:
Kennedy-Ohanenye’s remarks were clear and forceful:
“Let this be the last time Women Affairs will organize anything that I am not aware of. You try next time, I will come here and get you people disgraced. I know what I am going through in this country. For a while, this is what we keep on organizing. Few weeks ago, there was hunger protest and they talked about peace and security.
“Women are not empowered. Children are suffering. Nigerians are suffering but we waste money all the time in frivolous things that don’t make sense. I am sorry. Many people may misunderstand me but I am ready to be misunderstood. I am ready to be tortured. I am ready. I have changed the narrative, I said no programme without empowerment.
“You are talking about peace and security. With poverty, how can you solve it? You keep talking, doing workshops. With poverty, where are we heading to? How do we solve that poverty? By directing money to the wrong channels that don’t make impact on humans? On those people you want them to change and give you peace?
“I have changed the narrative. I said do not do any programme without empowerment. They give monies in the Ministries and it is used for travel, programmes. Nothing that will impact the nation. If you hear the monies the government gives out to ministries, you will be shocked. Why should it continue like that? Why should we fold our hands and these things will continue? Who do you think will save you? It’s you that will save yourself. Let them call me names, troublemaker’, ‘mad woman’, I am ready to take it.”
This incident underscores Kennedy-Ohanenye’s determination to ensure that government initiatives are aligned with her vision of empowering women and addressing the broader issues of poverty and hunger in Nigeria.
