Nigerian Media Urged to Support Women’s Empowerment in Politics

By Eme Offiong, Calabar

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The Nigerian media and gender friendly organisations have been urged to support the effort to create a more inclusive and equitable political landscape for more participation of women.

The group known as “Stand to End Rape Initiative” in conjunction with the Ministry of Women Affairs, Cross River State, southern Nigeria, made the call during a roundtable with some media practitioners in Calabar, the state capital.

The Commissioner for Women Affairs, Mrs. Edema Irom insisted that special consideration be given women to enable them contribute to national development.

Irom maintained that women politicians could be enabled to occupy leadership positions through passage of special legislations, which will deliberately creates opportunities for active participation.

“The Ministry of Women Affairs in partnership with “Stand to End Rape” Initiative came together to encourage women to join politics in order to change a male dominant political terrain.

“We are here to discuss this situation that is why the town hall meeting is titled: “Amplifying Women’s Representation in Politics – with particular focus on the “Special Seats Bill,” she emphasised.

She underscored the need for participants at the roundtable to contribute meaningfully to the debate as well as support the inclusion and equitable participation of women to nation building.

Also speaking, the only female lawmaker in the Cross River State House of Assembly, Dr. Mercy Akpama, representing Yakurr 2 State Constituency posited that gender issue was a global phenomenon, describing the none inclusion of women in the national affairs of countries as an aberration.

The legislator stated, “the inclusion of women in politics has been one of the major causes I pursue because we are all humans and must be given the opportunity to perform. We have the qualification to do so.”

Akpama, who is also the chairperson of the House of Assembly Committee on Women Affairs, Social Welfare and Gender Development urged, “the task here is for stakeholders to continue advocacy to have policies, legislations and implemented of the same to achieve success.

Partnership for success 

Earlier, the communication officer “Stand to End Rape (STER) Initiative, Elfrida Adeleye said that the organisation was determined to garner support for the ‘Special Seats Bil’ by partnering with strategic individuals and organisations such as the Ministry of Women Affairs to drive it message.

Adeleye explained that the bill, which has been resisted at the national assembly twice, would enhance greater political participation of women at the grassroots, state and nationally; noting “we need to work with the right people to drive this message.”

According to her, “in the national assembly, gender issues are taking the back seat because we do not have the right people there. But, with the “Special Seat Bill,” women will have a level playing ground. 

“The bill is a temporary bill designed to function for 16 years. It is hoped that by that time women should have been occupying valuable seats. So, it is not just to increase the number of women, but enhance their participation in national policies that drive development,” Adeleye said.

She said that the advocacy to some Nigerian States was to get the support of Nigerians for the passage of time bill.

Similarly, the Programme Officer in STER Initiative, Mr. Hussein Mohammed reiterated the duration of the bill, noting that the bill would significantly transform the male dominated political terrain by creating space for more women.

Mohammed enumerated other benefits of the bill to include reduction in the cost of governance, encourage young women to aspire for political leadership and establish justice, equity and true democratic process in governance.

 

Confidence Okwuchi

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