Women
By Lydia Ngwakwe
Lagos, June 4, 2018 (NAN) A woman activist, Mrs Betty Abah, on Monday advised women to support and believe in women who have shown interest to contest in the 2019 elections.
Abah, the Executive Director, Centre for Children’s Health Education, Orientation and Protection (CEEHOPE), Lagos, gave the advice in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
“As a woman, I am not happy with the leadership in Nigeria, especially in the policies so far made.
“My disappointment also extends to the National Assembly for refusing to pass gender-friendly laws that ought to have allowed women to contribute their optimal quotas to national development.
“It is on this ground that I urge every woman to come out on election day and vote for credible women interested in politics.
“ There are many women in Nigeria who are gifted with intellectual capacity and leadership skills to deliver good governance.
“If a woman wins, the country’s democracy will be stronger, because women constitute the largest percentage of Nigeria’s population,’’ Abah said.
On why women would make better candidates, she said: “Women are virtuous and straight.
“They are natural organisers and nurturers; they also have foresight and as such will make better leaders.
“At home and even in various companies, women have proven to be great in performing lead roles financially and otherwise.’’
According to Abah, if women are given opportunity to lead, their leadership roles will improve the quality of women’s lives.
She, therefore, appealed to women to come out of their comfort zones and contribute toward the nation building.
“Men are doing so much on their own, but there is need for balance at all levels of government.
“Women’s representation in leadership positions in Nigeria is low when compared to other developing countries.
“The time has come for women to be involved in politics and make their voices heard,’’ she said.
Abah urged women to collect their PVCs to participate in the forthcoming elections.
“PVC is the only tool that can give one opportunity to have a say in the nation’s development and create opportunity to develop gender balance in politics, governance and decision making. (NAN)
LED/VIV/GOK
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Edited by Vivian Ihechu/Olagoke Olatoye