Women Affairs Minister, Mrs. Pauline Tallen, has urged the Nigerian Association of Women Entrepreneurs (NAWE) to use their wealth of knowledge on entrepreneurship in developing the economy of the nation.

The minister gave the charge in Abuja on Tuesday at the inauguration of the newly elected President of the association, Mrs. Vera-Safiya Ndanusa, and other members of the executive.

Tallen was represented at the event by her Special Assistant on Technical Issues, Princess Jummai Idonije.

She particularly called on the association to build on the gains made by women’s contribution to economic development starting from their homes.

According to her, families are groomed right from the home into the larger society, and women must ensure things go the right way in society for the betterment of all.

She said that women always got involved in the building of the economy, not only in petty trading but also in the movement of goods and services across rural-urban routes as well as the borders towns.

Tallen added that women had always contributed to the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of the nation, which is a boost to the national economy.

“The role reflected in the number of working hours for women which is not less than 16 hours per day according to available reports, and that is what makes up the GDP of any nation.

“Therefore, women’s contributions to economic development in Nigeria are undervalued statistically, and in many cases, not valued at all in the compilation of GDP of the country.

“Available statistics show that women produce about 60 to 90 percent of all food grown, processed, stored, and marketed in our local communities.

“In Nigeria, women constitute about 70 percent of those engaged in Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises.

“Painfully, they are always relegated as a result of social, economic, political, and cultural factors. COVID-19 pandemic further dealt a heavy blow on these businesses,’’ she said.

Tallen, therefore, called on the government to put women in their priority place, adding that, the ministry would keep alive lyrics of women’s anthem by singing songs of women everywhere.

In the same vein, Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Mr. George Akume, noted that women had always owned and operated businesses, but they were yet to be recognized.

Akume, represented by Mrs. Fatima-Ibellogo Tor, said that findings from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor annual survey showed that in Nigeria, women were well represented when it comes to establishing businesses.

He added that the findings revealed that Nigeria was one of the countries in the world with the highest number of female entrepreneurs.

He added that women had contributed in no small measure to the growth of the country’s economy, as they clearly outnumbered the men in entrepreneurial development.

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Akume commended all those, who had been instrumental to the establishment of NAWE in 1993, and called on the incoming executives to encourage more women to venture into entrepreneurship especially into agriculture.

He said that President Muhammadu Buhari was committed to the eradication of poverty, and would continue to embark on policies that would improve agriculture and encourage farmers at the local level.

Meanwhile, Mrs. Ndanusa, the incoming president of NAWE promised to do her best for the association, and also encourage other women in entrepreneurship

The oath of office was administered to the new executives by the representative of the women’s affairs ministry.