By George Ozalla
A collective clarion call for more increased women inclusion in getting elected into political offices and other leadership positions without institutionalized legal and cultural barriers has been made.
This collective clarion call was made at a one day strategic workshop organized by BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights with support from National Democratic Institute (NDI) in Abuja on Thursday 29th August, 2024 which had in attendance large number of politically inclined experienced women drawn from the North Central Region of Nigeria- representing different groups and non-governmental organisations.
In her opening remark; the Executive Director of BAOBAB for Women’s Human Rights, Yeye Bunmi Dipo-Salami after expressing joy welcoming the participants went down memory lane to highlight numerous constraints hampering fair and liberal atmosphere for maximum inclusion of active women politicians from occupying especially sensitive elective seats, she decried that such an existential backward trend does not speak good for Nigeria as a giant of Africa in terms of fair democratic practice, principle and gender equality.
Dipo-Salami admitted that: “though some women may not be actually courageous enough to physically and otherwise participate in politics at the level of contesting for elective positions due to what she termed “the heat in the kitchen”. She however stated that those women who can; should be given fair chance to fully participate without obvious discriminatory hurdles against them as women.
Dipo-Salami earlier emphasized that the aim of the workshop was to identify factors militating against women’s fair, just and equitable inclusion in politics, review strategies, policy and legislative bottlenecks with a view to further charting a strategic way forward for adequate improvement on women’s active participation in politics and leadership in North Central Nigeria as well as getting them acquainted with SHE PERSISTS- Nigeria Project initiative earlier unveiled in Abuja Tuesday by BAOBAB with support from National Democratic Institute (NDI).
In his goodwill message, the Deputy Country Director: National Democratic Institute (NDI) Mr Francis Madugu emphasized that tactful act of mastering; “politics of politics”, will help women achieve result in their noble pursuit for more inclusion in the political and leadership space which is often full of diverse dissuasive challenges especially for the female gender.
Honorable Victor Obuzuor, the House of Representatives Committee Chair, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and Development while delivering his presentation praised women for their long untiring dogged conscious efforts over the years to actualize their dream of equitably seating at the table with appreciable numbers where key issues, discussions, and other policies that affects women are dissected despite glaring existing hurdles embedded in cultural and legal framework.
Hon. Obuzuor, stressing further acknowledged that in spite of those challenges caused by such factors, progress has been made in recent time- making reference to a bill to enhance women’s increased participation in occupying political offices initiated by the Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives: Rt Hon Benjamin Kalu and 12 others seeking to establish 74 Special seats for women in the legislative chamber which has successfully passed second reading.
Obuzour expressed optimism that when such a bill is finally passed and assented to; women will begin to enjoy more political rights and benefits.
Honorable Amina Darasimi Bryhm, President Forum of National Women Leaders during her presentation frowned at already established practice by almost all the political parties issuing waivers for women seeking to contest for elective positions which in her own opinion has clearly eroded the principle of level playing field for both genders- seeing it as unhelpful weaponized method that seek to perpetually place women in a pitiable condition first and foremost before even the race begins, she therefore rather advocated for reasonable and affordable cost of nomination and expression of interest forms as well as other levies for both genders.
Former first female Speaker of Ekiti State House of Assembly, Rt Hon Olubunmi Adelugba who is the National Co-ordinator of Network of Female Politicians for More (NFP4More) in her speech charged women to remain resilient with better focus and collaborative strategies; recounting her personal challenges and experience before becoming the Speaker.
Similarly, renowned gender equity advocate and former deputy gubernatorial candidate: Mrs Ene Ede, Amb.(Dr) Chikas Kumle, Ms Glory Adebola Michael, Dr Margaret Fagbero, Ene Cynthia, Janet Agba, Aisha Abubakar, Nimat Adeola, Lady Ruth Mengwa, Lois Auta, Irene Ike, Faith Waziri, Dorcas Unongu, Princess Halima Jubril and a host of other participants
in their individual separate speeches at the workshop stated that it is long over due for Nigeria to embrace best international practice by recognizing liberal democracy where women are given fair representations at all levels in order to create more effective social, emotional, political and economic balance for overall national growth and prosperity.
The theme of the workshop is: “From Margins to Mainstream: Improving Women’s Political Participation in Nigeria”.
High points of the workshop included: establishment of NC WPPL-NAP Coalition to lead advocacy initiatives on increasing women’s representation, networking and group photographs.
