By Christy Tamai
The Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up (NFWP-SU) has intensified its stakeholder engagement with a strategic advocacy visit to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) in Jos, aimed at strengthening collaboration on the protection and promotion of women’s rights.
Leading the delegation, the State Project Coordinator of NFWP-SU, Barr. Nanret Agaba, said the visit was part of ongoing efforts to build partnerships with key government institutions to ensure that eligible women fully benefit from the programme.
She explained that the project targets women in the pilot Local Government Areas of Mangu, Mikang, and Jos South, where beneficiaries aged 18 years and above will be organized into Women Affinity Groups (WAGs) of 25 members. The groups will promote savings, improve access to credit, strengthen sustainable livelihoods, and prepare members for government grant support.
Barr. Agaba noted that collaboration with the National Human Rights Commission would enhance the programme’s commitment to safeguarding the rights of women and creating an enabling environment for their participation and empowerment.
Responding, the Plateau State Coordinator of the National Human Rights Commission, Dr. Kyenpia Mafuyai, traced the commission’s establishment to the 1995 Act of Parliament, following a United Nations resolution encouraging member states to establish national human rights institutions.
She explained that the commission’s enabling law was amended in 2010, granting it greater independence to effectively promote and protect the human rights of Nigerians.
Dr. Mafuyai commended the objectives of the Nigeria for Women Programme Scale-Up, describing it as a valuable initiative that would positively impact women across the benefiting communities. She assured the NFWP-SU team of the commission’s readiness to collaborate in promoting and protecting the rights of women whenever the need arises.
