Zakari Advocates Better Inclusion of Women in Governance

The acting Chairperson of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Mrs. Amina Zakari, yesterday advocated better representation of the female gender in the Nigerian politics.

Speaking at the “She Forum Africa,” a friend-raiser community programme, which was organised by Premium Logic, she noted that women are still disadvantaged as far the country’s governance was concerned, in spite of a gender policy which is already in place in Nigeria, adding that there was need to consciously address such issues.

Zakari, who called for gender protection laws to tackle issues of relegation of interests of the Nigerian woman also urged political parties to give women the needed support to achieve their political potentials.

She also noted that INEC was very much aware of the gender challenges in any organization and had set up a gender directorate.

She said: “We at INEC recognise the importance of mainstream gender issues and that is why we have a Directorate on Gender.”

The INEC acting chair stressed that women should not only be appointed based on the 35 per cent affirmative women participation in Nigerian governance, but should also be engaged in elective offices

“The political process should not be seen as skewed against women but women should be given adequate space to make their relevant contributions,” she added.

The forum attracted the presence of high-profile women rights activists and on-air personalities like Eugenia Abu of the National Television Authority (NTA), youth activist and daughter of acclaimed winner of the annulled 1993 presidential election, Rinsola Abiola and a host of other participants.