The United Nations (UN) Women and the Inter-Party Advisory Council (IPAC) has agreed to promote women’s participation in politics through the HeforShe advocacy platform.
The agreement was reached during a one day south-south zonal seminar for men leadership of political parties held in Calabar, the capital of Cross River State, Southern Nigeria.
Members of the Inter-Party Advisory Council from Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Rivers and the host, Cross River State attended the seminar, which also attracted attendance from Civil Society Organisations involved in gender inclusivity campaigns.
In his opening remarks, the Governor of Cross River State, Senator Bassey Otu commended UN Women for choosing Calabar, the state capital to host the zonal seminar.
Governor Otu, who was represented by the Cross River State chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Dr. Alphonsus Eba, said “We are indeed delighted to host this all important conference. For us, we have been at the forefront of women inclusivity in politics.
“It is my belief that women must actively participate in the leadership recruitment process at the grassroots and grow through to the top. Women must show interest and be determined by taking advantage of the opportunities to become economically and socially strong,” he suggested.
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In her presentation on the Charter Demands by Nigerian Women for Political Parties, the Programme Associate, Governance and Participation in Public Life, Folasade Folorunso highlighted the three adopted demands.
According to Folorunso, the three demands include “Demonstrate the political will and commitment to gender equality and women’s empowerment; improve women’s participation in politics and decision making and demonstrate principled transformational leadership.”
Furthering collaboration
In his welcome address, the Cross River State IPAC chairman, Mr. Edet Okon, promised to collaborate with the government to promote women’s participation in politics beginning from the grassroots.
He expressed appreciation to Governor Bassey Otu for hosting the zonal event and giving political appointments to women in his administration.
“Women deserve to compete for elective offices alongside their male counterparts. So, let us continue to advocate for women’s inclusiveness in politics” he said.
There were goodwill messages from IPAC chairmen of Bayelsa and Rivers States including the Akwa Ibom State counterpart, Mrs. Blessing Umoren, who described the forum as an opportunity to learn better strategies to encourage women politically.
After extensive deliberations, the participants vowed to advocate for more women inclusion in politics. They also encouraged women’s aspirations for elective offices by appending their signatures to the HeforShe advocacy platform and were each decorated with a HeforShe engraved lapel pin.
Emmanuel Ukoh
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