Edo State Lauded for Gender Responsive Budgeting Efforts at High-Level Stakeholders’ Engagement

In endorsement of Edo State’s progress toward gender equality, the Commission Manager for Skills Development for Youth Employment (SKYE), Britta Van Erckelen, has commended the state for its strides in adopting Gender Responsive Budgeting (GRB).

Erckelen delivered this commendation during a high-level stakeholders’ engagement hosted by the Edo State Ministry of Social Development and Gender Issues in collaboration with the Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning.

The event, themed “Gender Responsive Budgeting – An Imperative for Edo State,” highlighted the state’s commitment to using budgetary processes as a tool to promote gender equality and social inclusion.

In her goodwill message, Britta Van Erckelen emphasized the importance of integrating gender considerations into budgeting processes, particularly within Technical Vocational Education (TVET).

According to her, the labour market offers vast opportunities when gender budgeting is taken into account. “Gender budgeting is a very important aspect to consider in Technical Vocation Education because of the wide range of opportunities it provides in the labour market,” she noted.

Erckelen also reflected on her first visit to Edo State in June 2024, where Governor Godwin Obaseki highlighted the need for targeted support to promote gender inclusion.

She praised the state for its proactive approach, stating that even before the governor’s request, SKYE and GIZ-implemented programmes under the Sustainable Economic Development Cluster (SEDEC) had already been backing initiatives in this area.

Among these, the domestication and launch of the Edo State Gender Policy in December 2023 stood out as a major milestone.

“Since the successful launch of the Gender Policy, we have worked closely with the state government to ensure that the action plan is being implemented across various sectors,” Erckelen said.
She added that SKYE and its partners remain committed to supporting the state’s gender-focused goals.

Also speaking at the event, the Commissioner for the Ministry of Social Development and Gender Issues, Christabel Omon Ekwu, stressed the need for deliberate planning and resource allocation to achieve true gender equality.

“Gender-Responsive Budgeting is not just about distributing resources; it is about ensuring that every naira spent reflects the diverse needs of the people, especially the marginalized and vulnerable,” she stated.

Ekwu’s sentiments were echoed by the Commissioner for Budget, Planning and Economic Development, Osilama Okuofu, who was represented by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Mr. Efe Iserhienrhien. Okuofu reaffirmed the ministry’s commitment to aligning the 2025 budget with the principles of equity and inclusivity.

“Our collaboration with the Ministry of Social Development and Gender Issues is vital in translating the Edo State Gender Policy into actionable budgetary frameworks that consider everyone’s needs, including vulnerable groups like women and children,” he said.

Helen Igboka, Programme Component Manager for Gender and Inclusion at GIZ-SKYE, called on policymakers to learn from global best practices in Gender Responsive Budgeting to further strengthen the state’s efforts.

Edo State’s Gender Responsive Budgeting initiative represents a critical step toward ensuring that government spending reflects the diverse needs of its citizens, particularly women, children, and other vulnerable groups.
As the state moves toward the development of its 2025 budget, stakeholders remain hopeful that these efforts will create a more equitable and inclusive society.

The high-level stakeholders’ engagement underscores the state’s commitment to embedding gender equality in its budgeting processes, marking a major step forward in advancing social inclusion across Edo State.