Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye, the Minister of Women Affairs, has taken strong exception to an event organized by her Ministry without her approval.
In a video circulating on social media, the Minister made it clear that while she is not opposed to workshops and seminars, such programmes must include women’s empowerment initiatives.
She issued a stern warning that if this happens again, she will publicly disgrace the organizers.
The Minister expressed her frustration, stating that simply organizing workshops and seminars does not have a direct impact on the people who need help the most.
“Let this be the last time anything is organized by the Ministry of Women Affairs without my knowledge. If it happens again, I will come here and disgrace everyone involved. I know what I am facing in this country. For too long, we have been organizing events that don’t address the real issues. A few weeks ago, there was a hunger protest, and they talked about peace and security, but women are not being empowered. Children are suffering. Nigerians are suffering, yet we waste money on frivolous things that make no sense. I am sorry if people misunderstand me, but I am ready to be misunderstood. I am ready to face the consequences. I have changed the narrative—I have said no that programmes should proceed without empowerment.”
She continued, “You talk about peace and security, but with poverty, how can you achieve that? You keep organizing workshops, but where are we heading with poverty? How do we solve it? By diverting money to activities that have no impact on the people you claim to want to help?”
The Minister further criticized the misuse of funds in government ministries, stating, “Money is given to ministries, and it is spent on travel and programmes that do nothing to impact the nation. If you knew the amount of money the government allocates to ministries, you would be shocked. Why should this continue? Why should we stand by and let it happen? Who do you think will save you? It’s you who must save yourself. Let them call me names—troublemaker, madwoman—I am ready to take it.”
