Women
By Lydia Ngwakwe
Lagos, Sept. 18, 2018 (NAN) An NGO, Women Arise for Change Initiatives, has appealed to political parties in Nigeria to go beyond the 35 per cent Affirmative Action and sponsor women for leadership positions.
Dr Joe Okei-Odumakin, President of the group, made this appeal on Tuesday in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos.
Okei-Odumakin spoke against the background of the upcoming Sept. 22 governorship election in Osun.
According to her, political parties must elevate the role of women not only by ensuring that the minimum standard of 35 per cent affirmative action is met.
“The parties must also ensure that women are sponsored for strategic and leadership positions.
“The world is evolving and the level of political consciousness of women is on the rise,’’ Okei-Odumakin said.
She said that any political party still relegating women out of positions of authority was doing so at its own peril.
“Any society that aspires to develop must consider the importance of women and the critical position of women in the society.
“In the socioeconomic development of societies, women have left the position of being bench warmers to taking up leading roles in both public and private sectors, and have continued to distinguish themselves,’’ she said.
The woman activist explained that the time for women to aspire for positions without considering any barrier was now.
She urged them to take advantage of their population and strength to determine the political future of the society.
The activist, however, urged women to ensure that they played important roles in ensuring that credible candidates were elected in the upcoming Osun election.
She urged them to understand that they were equal stakeholders in the electoral process and as such, should monitor their votes and ensure it counts.
Okei-Odumakin also advised them to ultimately serve as advocates against electoral violence.
NAN reports that out of the 48 governorship candidates to contest the election, only one is a woman. (NAN)
LED/JIE/GOK
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Edited by Julius Enehi/Olagoke Olatoye