Jonathan: My administration is gender friendly
President Goodluck Jonathan yesterday renewed his vow to support women in their bid to occupy more elective offices come 2015.
Speaking as a special guest of honour at the opening of a twoday Nigeria Women Strategy conference held in Abuja yesterday, Jonathan said his administration would continue to encourage women participation in politics for the policy on affirmative action to be achieved.
Represented by Vice President Mohammed Namadi Sambo, Jonathan said Nigerian women have played critical roles and still have significant part to play in view of the country’s nascent democracy.
He said for any country to develop, women must be adequately identified and engaged in every facet of life, adding that there was need to create necessary atmosphere and provide the impetus for women to have equal opportunities with men.
He said conferences of this nature are necessary to re-awaken Nigerian women’s consciousness to engage the men in the contest for elective offices, adding that women have indeed proved their mettle in the country’s leadership.
Senate President David Mark in his remarks decried the poor representation of Nigerian women in virtually all political structures in the country.
Mark who was represented by chairman, Senate Committee on Women Affairs, Senator Helen Esuene, said despite the active participation of Nigerian women in politics, there was virtually nothing to show for it.
Giving a breakdown of women political representation in some regions around the world, Mark said sub-Saharan Africa has 20.2 per cent; Asia 17.9 per cent, the Pacific 14.9 per cent, with Europe having 20.9 percent among others.
Speaker of the House of Representatives, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to dedicate certain constituencies to women in its delineation exercise.
Tambuwal who expressed the legislators’ determination to ensure gender balance, regretted that the matter has not been included in the constitution review, adding that they were ready to give it top priority whenever it comes up.
Earlier, Mulikat Akande-Adeola said because of the challenges women faced in politics in Nigeria, the conference serves as an intervention to ensure more electoral victories are secured for them come 2015 and beyond.