6 TH ANNUAL COLLOQUIUM OF THE IUCN ACADEMY OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW. POVERTYALLEVIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. NOVE

1. 6TH ANNUAL COLLOQUIUM OF THE IUCN ACADEMY OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW. POVERTYALLEVIATION AND ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION. NOVEMBER 10-15, 2008. MEXICO CITY OLANIYI SALAU, FACULTY OF LAW, OLABISI ONABANJO UNIVERSITY, NIGERIA

2. OUT OF THE 140 MILLION INHABITANTS OF NIGERIA FEMALES ACCOUNT FOR APPROXIMATELY 49% WHILE MALES ACCOUNT FOR 51% DEEP SEATED GENDER DISCRIMINATIONS DEPRIVE WOMEN ACCESS TO PROPERTY AND OTHER RIGHTS HAPPILY NIGERIAN COURTS ARE ALIVE TO THEIR DUTIES IN SETTING ASIDE DEROGATORY CULTURAL PRACTICES 1 introduction 1. INTRODUCTION

7. 6 ACCESS TO CREDIT FOR THE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED • THE NEWLY INTRODUCED MICROFINANCE POLICY IS EXPECTED TO KEY INTO NEEDS(1&2) & MDGS DOCS • DESPITE SUCCCESS OF RECAPITALISATION COMMERCIAL BANKS WERE ONLY ABLE TO SERVICE 35% 0F ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE PEOPLE • THEREFORE, POLICY IS EXPECTED TO BOOST INCOME OF ECONOMICALLY ACTIVE POOR, REDISTRIBUTE INCOME & TACKLE POVERTY • NIG. HAS AT LEAST 716 MFBS WITH SHAREHOLDING OF AT LEAST $ 119.34 MILLION – VERY INADEQUATE • POLICY OBJECTIVES INCLUDE ELIMINATION OF GENDER DISPARITY & BOOSTING OF ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES AMONG LOW INCOME PEOPLE, ETC

8. 7CONCLUSIONBECAUSE WOMEN ARE CLOSER TO THE ENVIRONMENT THAN MEN ANY POLICY THAT WILL CURB ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION MUST INVOLVE WOMENTHOUGH MFP IS STILL IN INFANT STAGE IT IS A WELLCOME DEVELOPMENT

9. 8RECOMMENDATIONS To encourage higher participation by women facilities given to them should attract lower rates of interest. The creation of a technical department by each MFB to offer necessary technical assistance, as an integral component of every facility, to be funded as a social service, on improved technology for agricultural and food processing activities which is the turf of rural women.