The Gender and Inclusion Summit is a high-level event being staged by the Policy Innovation Centre to critically discuss topics of gender and inclusion in the development of Nigerian social and economic strategies and policies. Global leaders at the event are the American Ambassador to Nigeria, Mary Beth Leonard; the British High Commissioner to Nigeria, Ms. Catriona Laing CB, the Nigerian Minister for Women Affairs, H. M. Dame Pauline Tallen, Minister for Finance, H. M. Zainab Ahmed among several high profile leaders from different segments of the nation and beyond.
Atunde Ahmed Olarewaju, a health policy researcher, during his research exhibition, stated that the development of data banks that enhance decision-making and inform policy-making is important to the development of the Nigerian Health Security System. He opined while presenting his data-driven policy research themed: Women and Girls Inclusion: A Review of the Nigerian National COVID-19 Vaccine Distribution Strategy and Practice, that the coverage of the vaccination process in data structures that are synchronised and secured will accentuate the efforts of African leaders to prepare ahead of any possible outbreak in the future.
While reiterating the findings of the research led at Girl Up Nigeria, he stated that the study shows that the knowledge and awareness of the Covid-19 vaccine are low on the part of women and girls compared to their male counterparts. In addressing this, there’s the need to redesign the Vaccination Strategies to pay attention to gender differences and peculiarities, putting social determinants of health into consideration.
Other key speakers and panelists present at the event are Mrs Maryam Uwais, Special Advisor, National Social Investment Office; Tunde Onakoya, the founder of Chess in Slum Africa; and Dr Charles Usie, the Country Director of Plan International Nigeria.