Concerned stakeholders across the globe have commenced advocacies for improved participation and involvement of women in politics in Nigeria.
The stakeholders including UN women, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies and some female politicians in Ebonyi State argued that Nigeria tends to grow better when a sizeable number of females are included in governance.
As part of measures to achieving this aim, the organizations organised a one-day advocacy and sensitization workshop in Ebonyi North East State Constituency with the theme: “Advance Women’s Political Participation and Representation.”
At the event held in Abakaliki, Ebonyi State capital on Tuesday, the Coordinator of UN Women, Prof. Arthur Ikeme lamented that despite the gender equality campaigns, there are still low participation of women in politics and this motivated them to carry out sensitization visits to the South East geopolitical zone and Ebonyi State was chosen as the first point of call.
Ikeme commended the lawmaker, Chinyere Nwogbaga for her ingenuity and thanked the State Governor, Francis Nwifuru for putting women in positions of authority in his administration.
Nwogbaga who facilitated the programme recounted the hurdles she faced while seeking political position adding that women are being marginalised despite their efficiency and dedication to duties.
Nwogbaga who is the Chairman, House Committee on Women Affairs, is representing Ebonyi North East Constituency in the Ebonyi State House of Assembly.
She explained that she organised the programme through the sponsorship of the UN Women to advocate and intensify the involvement of women in politics noting that women have proven to be better in handling positions of authority if given the chance.
Rendering account of her stewardship, Nwogbaga said she has co-sponsored several key bills into law, installed street lights in each of the seven wards in her Constituency, secured health insurance for more than 100 elderly and vulnerable individuals, drilled hand pump boreholes to provide portable water, established a foundation to offer free services to the needy, distributed bag of fertilizers to rural farmers to boost food availability, awarded scholarships to indigent students as well as payment of WAEC fees.
The lawmaker commended the state governor for his giant stride in putting women in positions of authority like the State Deputy Governor, the Secretary to the State Government, Clerk of the State Assembly and members in the State Executive Council and eulogized the wife of the state governor, Mary Maudline Nwifuru for her BERWO programme which has given women great sense of belonging.
In her remarks, the chairman of the Industrial Arbitration Panel in South East, Tonia Adol Awam called for the enhancement and strict implementation of the violence against persons Law (VAPP) to allow more women participation in politics.
