Dame Tallen finds new ally in Catholic Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama in fight against gender-based violence 

Oru Leonard

At the Sunday Christian Service which is a part of the 2021 edition of the 16-Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence against women and girls, the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen has found a new strong voice against the scourge, in the Catholic Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja who called for increased education and oportunity for women and young persons’ participation in the political space.

Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama declared the readiness of faith-based organizations such as the Catholic Church, Catholic Women Organization to join the struggle to eliminate gender-based violence against women and girls.

Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama was speaking when giving his homily at St. Charles Lwanga Parish, Apo Resettlement, Abuja on Sunday, 5th December, 2021, venue of the Sunday Christian Service which is a part of the 2021 edition of the 16-Days of Activism on Gender-Based Violence against women and girls.

The Jumat Prayers with Islamic Clerics had earlier taken place on Friday, 26th November, 2021 in the 16-Days of Activism which commenced on Thursday, 25th November to last till Friday, 10th December, 2021.

The Catholic Archbishop of Abuja, Kaigama called for increased investment in women and girls and said: “We need to empower the women.” He also appealed to those who kidnapp women and girls to have a change of heart and release the girls and other persons who were kidnapped. “Women are our sisters, wives, mothers and friends, they should not be abused. They are essential part to enhance our family and national development. Our girls and women should acquire good education and financial capabilities. “Our Justice, Peace and Development Commission as well as Education Commission are ready to complement Government’s effort in this regard.” “We are ready to help redress this terrible injustice done to our women.” He further challenged the Government to ask the faith-based organizations, “What are you doing for women? What are you doing to stop this violence against women and girls.”

“Women must be given the chance to be a part of the vision and dreams of our nation. In other words, there should be more involvement and participation of women in our political, economic and social life”, “More importantly in Nigeria, the men should concede a good percentage of political offices to the women”, the Archbishop urged, “Since the competition is so stiff and because of the masculine culture women are always at a disadvantage.”

The women, Kaigama asked “must be given political muscle and also good, quality education for both their personal and national development, the Cleric urged.

“From empirical evidence, we gathered that women performs better” in political offices because “they are passionate, they are committed, they are confident” when they are given the chance. “If you want change, change that is good, come to the women”, the Ceric further urged.

The audience of Archbishop Bishop Kaigama includes regular worshipers and guests of St. Charles Lwanga Parish, Apo Resettlement, Abuja who co-incidentally were part of the commissioning of the newly built Catholic Church Building of the Parish.

When the Honourable Minister of women had the chance, Dame Tallen siezed the opportunity to decorate the Catholic Archbishop Ignatius Kaigama of the Catholic Archdiocese of Abuja as a HeforShe and with the orange coloured insignia of the Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence against women and girls.