NAN-HG-7
Governance
By Lilian Chukwu
Lagos, March 9, 2018 (NAN) The first female one-star general in the Nigerian Navy, Rear Adm. Itunu Hotonu has attributed the low participation of women in politics and decision making processes in the country to inferiority complex.
Hotonu said this on the sideline of a public lecture organised by the Female Architects of Nigeria (FAN) to mark the 70th birthday of its past President, Mrs Olubukunola Ejiwunmi in Lagos on Friday.
She said that men and women should have equal access to power and authority at all levels of government as a matter of right, adding that lack of confidence on the part of women was a major problem hindering them from governance.
Hotonu pointed out that equal access of every citizen to power, decision-making and leadership at all levels was necessary precondition for the proper functioning of democracy in all countries of the world.
Hotonu, a Fellow of the Nigeria Institute of Architects (NIA), said that globally, women made 27 per cent of judges by 2011, and nine per cent of the armed forces and police by 2011, while they made up 40 per cent of the formal labour.
The one star general stressed the need for women to step by participating in national decision-making.
She said that without the perspective of women at all levels of decision making, the goals of equality, development and peace could not be achieved.
“Both men and women in equal numbers are required at the top level when high-stake decisions are being made. Both sexes are necessary to balance one another out when tensions are running high.
“What predicts success is having multiple female leaders, not just one in top decision making roles,’’ she said.
According to her, successful organisations are discovering that if they want to make a team smarter, they should add women and genuinely listen to them.
Hotonu urged the Federal Government to ensure equal economic opportunities for women in all sectors and develop a database for women that could be considered for appointments. (NAN)
LUC/OSA/EEE
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Edited by Shittu Obassa/Ese E. Ekama