The European Union (EU) has set aside $250 million for the empowerment of African women. This was revealed by Laolu Olawumi, EU’s Programme Manager to Nigeria, at the UN and EU spotlight initiative workshop held in Abuja. This initiative, according to reports, is in line with the organization’s 2030 Agenda in Africa.
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About the EU-UN Spotlight Initiative: According to Olawunmi, the EU-UN joint Spotlight Initiative is a global initiative focused on eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls.
“Spotlight Initiative is a global initiative that has attracted $500 million and several countries have been selected across some continents in the world, to benefit from the grant.
“A total of about $250 million has been set aside for countries in Africa and Nigeria is one of the countries that have been selected. In Nigeria, additional envelop has been earmarked, which would be soon confirmed.”
An official of the UN Women, Patience Ekeoba, also disclosed the number of countries that are set to benefit from the fund. She stated that the fund would be allocated to some African countries that include Nigeria, Liberia, Niger, Malawi, Mozambique, Mali, Zimbabwe, and Uganda.
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Ekeoba added that the overall vision of the Initiative is to achieve a Nigeria, where all women and girls are free from violence and harmful practices.
The focus of the organization: According to Mr. Kwasi Amankwaah, Head of UN Resident Coordinator’s Office, the EU-UN Joint Initiative was launched in 2017, to focus on eliminating all forms of violence against women and girls.
He urged residents of the participating countries to participate in order to assist in eradicating violence and harmful practices that are related to sexual and reproductive health, as well as the rights of women in the society.
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