Governor Aminu Tambuwal of Sokoto State on Monday signed an agreement with United Nations (UN) agencies.
Tambuwal pledged increased governmental collaborations with UN agencies on enhancing peoples’ lives and environmental development in the state.
Tambuwal made the commitment when he signed an agreement for “Spotlight Initiative’’, a UN project to eliminate violence against women and girls on Monday in Sokoto, NAN reports.
He said that his administration, since inception, had prioritised education in recognition of its status on facilitating empowerment where it declared state of emergency in the sector.
He stressed that the efforts yielded positive impacts on enrollment, retention and completion as well as on infrastructural development.
According to him, more subsidies, incentives and other support are provided to encourage small scale and large scale farmers across the state.
He called for separation between the office of Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF) and the Minister of Justice, observing that AGF office should be disassociated from politics.
The UN Secretary Representative in Nigeria and Coordinator of Spotlight Initiative, Mr Edward Kallon, said that the initiative ”is a global, multi-year partnership between European Union and UN to eliminate all forms of violence against women and girls by 2030.
”It is the world’s largest targeted effort to end all forms of violence against women and girls.
”The initiative is so named as it brings focused attention to this issue, moving it into the spotlight and placing it at the centre of efforts to achieve gender equality and women’s empowerment.
“In line with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the initiative will fully integrate the principle of leaving no one behind.
“Gender equality and women’s and girls’ empowerment are at the heart of the 2030 agenda for Sustainable Development and crucial to its achievement,” he said.
Kallon congratulated Tambuwal for his re-election, stressing that his past records of achievement as Speaker in the House of Representatives had demonstrated his commitment to service.
The event was attended by representative of Sultan of Sokoto, Galadiman Gari, Alhaji Aminu Attahiru, Speaker Sokoto House of Assembly, Aminu Acida, commissioners and Head of UN agencies.
