o date reactivated a total of 40 WDCs, with a total of 8000 women trained in the reactivated WDCs and equipped with toolkits/starter packs. NCWD Day Care Centre: provides day care services to enhance the productivity of working mother and self-fulfillment. The Legislative Chambers of the National Assembly: - There exists a strong synergy and collaboration  between the Senate and House of Representatives Committees on Women and Children Affairs, Human Rights and Justice on the one hand, on the other, with the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs in the advancement of equal access to opportunities, gender equality, promotion and protection of women’s rights against all forms of discrimination, through the passage of laws that seek to remedy the effects of discriminatory practices, policies, programmes and projects in Nigeria. Women and gender concerned activists, civil society organizations and women focused NGOs have formed a National Coalition on Affirmative Action in Nigeria to lobby and sensitize on the domestication and progressive implementation of both CEDAW and the Maputo Protocol in Nigeria. Efforts are been made by the NGO Coalition and the Gender Ministry to re-table the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill 2010/11 and the Violence against Women Bill in 2013 and re-engage the National Assembly Law Makers on their passage. National Human Rights Commission: - The National Human Rights Commission was established by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Act, 1995, as amended by the NHRC Act, 2010, in line with the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly which enjoins all member States to establish national human rights institutions for the promotion and protection of human rights. The Commission serves as an extra-judicial mechanism for the enhancement of the enjoyment of human rights. Its establishment is aimed at creating an enabling environment for the promotion, protection and enforcement of human rights. It also provides avenues for public enlightenment, research and dialogue in order to raise awareness on human rights issues.   Other Measures Promoting Women and Development With women constituting about half of Nigeria’s population, there is overwhelming evidence that they are a formidable productive force and a repertoire of incredible human resource that is critical for attaining for national economic development. Therefore, the role of this vast human capital in the socio-economic advancement of the country cannot be over-emphasized. In recognition of this reality, Government is, among others, taking increasing steps to: i. ii. Make more and more major policy interventions targeted at improving the social status of women; Improve women’s economic base by making special bank loans available —through the Central Bank of Nigeria, Nigeria Infrastructure Bank, Bank of Agriculture and the Bank of Industry; iii. Ensure massive increase in girl-child education; iv. Discourage early girl-child marriages. Enhancing Women’s Economic Empowerment 148