Women Empowerment Advocate Falana Demands Relief for Nigerians Amid Crisis

Mrs. Funmi Falana, SAN, Director of Women Empowerment and Legal Aid, has called on the Nigerian government to introduce policies and programs aimed at providing immediate relief to the country’s citizens and easing the burden of the ongoing economic hardship. She made this call during a press interaction in Iyin Ekiti, Ekiti State, on Saturday, following her annual Christmas party for the children at the Erelu Angela Adebayo Children’s Home.

The wife of renowned human rights activist Femi Falana, SAN, emphasized the need for both federal and state governments to make special budgetary provisions for reputable orphanages, highlighting that such allocations would improve the effective running of these homes and complement the efforts of philanthropists and kind-hearted individuals who contribute to the well-being of the less fortunate.

She noted, “Huge amounts of money are allocated to members of the National Assembly, who number fewer than 500, in the annual budget. The government can do well to allocate adequate funds to orphanages for the benefit of the less privileged.”

Falana, who presented gifts of cash, food items, soft drinks, and beverages to the children at the orphanage, urged philanthropists to continue to extend kindness to the less fortunate, especially during these challenging times.

The legal luminary expressed concern over the harsh economic conditions Nigerians are facing, noting that essential goods and services have become unaffordable for the average citizen. “The harsh economic situation in the country is hitting hard, and our governments must urgently address this to alleviate the suffering of Nigerians, so they are not seen as failures,” she remarked.

She pointed out that the rising cost of essential goods, including a bag of rice now priced at N120,000, was a major concern. “Women are crying, and children are weeping. I don’t know how the average Nigerian is surviving with the rise in petrol prices and other products,” she said, describing the economic situation as “weaponized poverty.”

Falana also linked the recent fatal stampedes that occurred across the country, where children and others lost their lives, to the widespread poverty in the nation. “This is one of the ripple effects of the economic hardship. The charity organizations that facilitated these programs meant well, but they turned tragic because of the level of suffering in our country. It is very sad,” she lamented.

The matron of the orphanage, Mrs. Modupe Ajayi, expressed her gratitude to Mrs. Falana for over a decade of consistent support for the children and the orphanage, describing her contributions as invaluable.

This heartfelt plea by Mrs. Funmi Falana highlights the urgent need for policy interventions to alleviate the hardships faced by the vulnerable in Nigeria, especially during the festive season.