By Esther Tiemo
Partners West Africa Nigeria has emphasized the need for women to occupy strategic positions in government.
During a program which had vast attendance of women from different professions at the treasure suites in Abuja, women were urged to set aside their personal agenda and work in synergy with other women in the country to ensure they are placed in top ranked positions were they can also be involved in decision making thereby bringing in other women into political positions to avoid being marginalized.
Presenting a keynote address, Iyom Josephine Anenih esq on Agenda setting for participation of Women in the Political Process Towards 2023 General Elections, she noted that women are highly responsible to constituted response.
According to her not every woman elected into legislative body will place women’s issues at the front of their agenda in order words women should start giving priority to each other’s goals and aspirations.
She noted that findings have shown that it is easy for women to work under pressure hence the need for women to rise up to occasion and set up their agenda by putting down their goals and not allow the media set them aside but work in synergy with the media to push forward their ideas and visions.
Iyom further pinpointed that it is high time women float their own political party and also work on breaking the jinx of god fatherism and monitization of the political process in order to be taken serious.
Contributing Immediate Past Head of service, Imo State, Alman Edwina emphasized that mentorship is key therefore women must make some sacrifices, ensure they bring their experiences to bare by mentoring the young ones thereby preparing them for the future.
Also speaking was Executive Director PWAN, Kemi Okenyodo who stated that a study was conducted in the 6 geo political zones of the country and it was discovered that women are mainly mobilized as voters but are not elected or appointed.
She added that women must begin to build their capacity through mentorship noting that lack of competence can bring a woman down even if she has reached the top.
Okenyodo however stated that the discussion will be ongoing to build the younger ladies, groom and mentor them, thereby making it easy for women to be incorporated into strategic positions.
‘‘The governance structures at the federal and state and local government levels are not inclusive and limit the involvement of women. Let’s start organically and build the movement from schools, build leadership structures and capacity at all levels’’ she stated.
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