The Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) has charged stakeholders with deploying strategic ways to tackle the scourge of gender inclusion and urgently tackle poverty, especially among women.
The Chairman of NESG, Olaniyi Yusuf, speaking at the gender and inclusion summit organized by the Policy Innovation Centre (PIC) of NESG, said the group has championed a myriad of critical and transformative issues that play a pivotal role in shaping the nation‘s socio-economic landscape over the years.
He said their commitment to driving impactful platforms has catalyzed economic growth in the nation and elevated the standard of living for our citizens.
Yusuf noted that the PIC was launched in October 2021 to deepen the impact of social interventions in our country. He said the PIC deploys two transformative lenses: behavioural insights and a gender transformative approach.
„So, these lenses have informed the creation of the Gender and Inclusion Summit. Since 2022, the Summit has been institutionalized as an annual gathering for multi-stakeholders to discuss and co-create contextually relevant solutions for gender and inclusion in Nigeria.
„The theme of the 2024 Gender Inclusion Summit is very relevant as we urgently need to tackle the issue of poverty in the country, which we know disproportionately affects women.
„The scourge of multi-dimensional poverty persists and continues to entangle millions in its grip. Hence, the Gender Inclusion Summit must permeate every facet of our existence, influence the fabrics of our society, and shape our collective future,“ the NESG Chairman stated.
Yusuf further stated that the NESG‘s unwavering commitment and dedication to its four pillars—sourcing dialogue, intervening where necessary, acting as a connector, and acting as a watchdog—have influenced policies, fostered dialogues across sectors, and advocated for inclusive developments.
„These efforts have led the NESG to create the Policy Innovation Centre, and these efforts have also helped to solidify our reputation as a leading Think Tank on the continent with defining evidence-based policy advocacy and as a force for the promotion of sustainable developments and advancing humanity in all dimensions“, he added.
The Chairman of PIC, Mr Udeme Ufot, said the Summit is a platform conceived to foster dialogue among critical stakeholders from diverse sectors.
He further stated that the Summit serves as a space where stakeholders reflect on new evidence and explore contextually relevant solutions to the disparities in inclusivity in Nigeria.
„By uniting the collective power of the government, development partners, civil societies, academia, the private sectors and citizens, we aim to inspire a collective commitment and focused action towards building a gender inclusive society.“