Participants who attended a town hall meeting tagged, “Amplifying women’s representation in politics with a special focus on the special seats bill”, organized by Stand to End Rape Initiative in partnership with Abia State Ministry of Women Affairs with support from the Embassy of the Federal Republic of Germany, Abuja in Umuahia, Abia State, have urged media workers and other critical stakeholders in Nigeria to support women participation in politics in Nigeria, to enable them to have good representation in matters that concerns them.
The participants who include: the National Treasurer of Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ Comrade Victor Ndukwe, Abia State Director of National Orientation Agency, NOA Mrs. Regina Iroha, former Chief Press Secretary to former Deputy Governor of Abia State, Mr. Obasi Onwukah Okibeh, a broadcaster, Mrs Ozioma Chike Ukaha who made the call, also pointed out that if the special seats bill is passed into law, it will give more women the opportunity to participate in politics.
Pix: Abia State Director of National Orientation Agency, NOA Mrs. Regina Iroha.
While citing the likes of Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Dr Oby Ezekwesiri among others as women who had done well in their respective offices, they expressed dissatisfaction that out of 36 states in Nigeria, only 15 states elected women into their stat houses of assembly, observing also that Abia House of Assembly is among the states that have no single woman as a law maker.
They further called for the removal of barriers like financial, educational, cultural barriers that can discourage women and urged them to build strong alliance.
Delivering a lecture on the topic, “Inclusivity in Governance: Nigeria Women, the special Seats bill and effective Communication” the National Treasurer, Nigeria Union of journalists Comrade Victor Ndukwe, who frowned at the low level of women representation over the years, observed that the current political landscape in Nigeria, according to available records, presents a stark disparity in women’s elective political representation in leadership and politics.
According to him, “Nigeria can draw many benefits from an increased, or a fair women representation in politics, leadership and governance / decision making for the good of all including Improved decision making, economic Empowerment and International Development.
“Other are Enhanced Social Welfare and Education, Enhanced representation, Social justice and Reduced Gender based violence and Improved Health care”.
He maintained that in order to amplify women’s voice and women’s representation, Nigerians must effectively communicate its impact through the use of statistics to illustrate the benefits of women participation in governance and leadership.
Ndukwe said, “No matter how we look at it, inclusive governance is crucial for Nigeria and any society that seeks advancement. Addressing these concerns would also amount to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, number five which focuses on achieving Gender Equality and Empowering all Women and Girls as well as goal 16 which touches on Promoting and Achieving Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions, thereby decision making and sustainable development”.
Also, a former Chief Press Secretary to former Deputy Governor of Abia State, Mr. Obasi Onwukah Okibeh in a keynote address tagged, WOMEN IN GOVERNANCE: PAVING THE WAY FOR AN INCLUSIVE FUTURE IN NIGERIA”, joined in the call for the passage of the Special Seats Bill into an Act is key.
He asserted that a gender balanced political leadership is critical to the sustenance of Nigeria democracy.
Earlier in his speech, the Program Manager of Stand to End Rape Initiative, Mr Muhammed Husseni, who emphasized the need to increase the number of women occupying elective offices in Nigeria, also called for creation of a special seat exclusive for women in States and National Assemblies.
Husseni who also harped on the need for women to be given more opportunities to participate in politics, said Abia State was selected for awareness given the number of women appointed by Governor Alex Otti as Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries and Advisers.
Husseni also called on Nigerians to sign the petition for the special seat bill which will be presented at the National Assembly soon.
Also, the Communication Officer of Stand to End Rape Initiative, Miss Elfrida Tolulope Adeleye said the town hall meeting was designed to draw the attention of the media and others to the Bill and the need to sensitive the public.
Adeleye, who observed that Nigeria is not practicing inclusiveness like other countries like Rwanda, added that special legislative seats bill is a corrective measure to accommodate more women in politics.
Adeleye , who also expressed optimism that the Bill when passed into law, will allow more women to thrive in politics as 2027 election approaches, called on Journalists to support the cause of women participation in politics through objective reportage.
In her remarks, the state focus person of the organization, Mrs Helen Onwuka thanked everyone for honouring the invitation and urged all to join hands to create the awareness.
