Nigerian woman in 2019
019 is sure going to be one tough battleground for women in the political terrain in Nigeria if the 2018 party primaries are anything to go by. The main political parties in the country are supposed to be champions of the affirmative action, of which 35 per cent of women are to be included in all aspects of political governance globally, but ironically, Nigeria has failed in that area. After the primaries we saw a nosedive of women given the tickets to represent their parties. This is a far cry from what we had in 2015.
It is a known fact that women make up majority of the general population and so do they constitute majority of the voting population. Women, old and young, constitute majority of those that come out to cast their votes during elections, But ironically, this same population of women, who sacrifice all to cast their votes, are poorly represented. This makes them voiceless and marginalised when it comes to fair representation in elective positions
It is no doubt that women are visibly not well represented in political, economic and national issues. The percentage of male representation when compared to women is relatively huge, of which the majority favours men. The present 8th Assembly has only seven women out of a total of 109 senators.
Aside women being sidelined politically, we also have a worrisome situation in Lagos State, which has always championed the case of women. Since the inception of democracy in Nigeria, women has always been elected as deputy governors, but the state is going into the 2019 general elections without a woman as gubernatorial running mate. And many ask: Where does the fate of women lie in the state?
Despite the fact that they constitute a large number of voters, Nigerian women have not yet broken the jinx to produce a governor through the ballot box. The highest office they could occupy is that of deputy governor after riding on the backs of men as attested to in some few states at present
Interestingly, we have about five women presidential aspirants. But a deputy politics editor, Clifford Ndujihe asked, ‘Will women win the presidency in 2019?’ These women represent a mere 10 per cent of the total number of persons aspiring to be president.
Many have blamed the poor outings of most female politicians on fund. The political terrain in Nigeria is structured in a way that funds play a major role in every political event or outing. Our political system is driven by money, and that is why we have the kind of leadership we have.
The Nigerian woman hopes to see more opportunities given to women since they are automatically undermined in the electoral affairs of the country. In 2019, we hope to see more women given appointive positions. We hope that the government of the day gives women at least 35 per cent affirmative positions when it comes to contributing to national affairs. Gone are the days when the post of minister of women affairs and two other slots is seen as having fulfilled all righteousness of the 35 per cent affirmative action.
It would be worthy to note that if women aren’t included in the political, economic and social affairs of the country, it would amount to shortchanging itself by not making the political space more inclusive to enable women contribute in harnessing the country’s greatness.
In 2019, Nigerian women would be identifying global trends and opportunities as women and girls are starting to take up space with their voice and perspectives, as most will be calling for a safer space for gender equality or equity.
Strategy, collaborations, congregations and conceiving new ideas are what most Nigerian women will be doing in 2019 to bridge the gap of being sidelined in political and leadership positions.
Entrepreneurial skills will see a new rise amongst Nigerian women in 2019. 2018 saw women come out of their comfort zones to try something new for themselves, with most of them making a breakthrough from small businesses to big enterprises. Very few female chief executive officers exist when compared to their numerous male counterparts. The media industry has been dominated by men. And very few women have made it to the core of the industry as they are mostly relegated to the soft sell segments.
Despite the challenges facing female entrepreneurs in the business world, especially in Nigeria, female entrepreneurs are growing bolder and more optimistic about the future.
Women have been severely affected by the health sector in Nigeria as maternal and child mortality is constantly on the increase. 2018 saw more women patronize traditional health because of the deteriorating state of poor primary health care services/facilities in most states. Many primary health care centres in various states in the country are in critical dilapidated states, poorly equipped, lack of trained personnel, dedicated staff, lack electricity, water, thereby leaving the health facility incapacitated to attend to pressing health issues.
The Nigerian woman hopes and clamours for better health care system in 2019, and this can only be achieved if more funds are allotted the health sector in the budget, compared to what is available now.
Education for girls in the northern part of the country has been a big challenge as child marriages still happen. The school feeding programme that was introduced to encourage children, especially girls, seems to have made an impact, but ironically, it stops at the primary stage. Most girls drop out of school after primary or secondary and they are married off by their parents as early as the age of 15.
Inasmuch as the school feeding programme has recorded some successes, relevant authorities should take a step further to ensure that the girl-child attains the highest level of education so that she can attain the peak of her potentials. 2019, hopes to be the year of the girl-child.
In conclusion, 2019 hopes to see an increase of women representation and participation in decision-making positions in all sectors and levels. She should be given an equal chance to make inputs and contributions to the development of the country.
Nigeria should step up her game by giving considerable female representative slots in all areas as most African countries have done. If we are to really call ourselves the giants of Africa, we really can’t continue to leave the women behind.
The head of the European Union (EU) delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ambassador Ketil Karlsen, at a seminar in Abuja, said that Nigerian women possessed leadership traits needed to drive the nation into prosperity. But to harness these, they must be given the opportunity.
Mrs Moji Makanjuola, one of the facilitators of the interactive session at the seminar, said that women may not have the money to spend like their male counterparts, but they were agents of change ready to turn things around.
Women need to be part of the process where decisions concerning them are deliberated upon and adopted. If they are not part of the process, they will continue to remain stagnant as their needs may never be addressed .
Every decision affects women mostly, and without our needs being met, everything remains the same and no progress will be made.
2019 will see an increase in female participation at all decision-making levels -from the community, local government - to state and national levels and , as well as the private sector. 2019 will see more funding for grassroots mobilsation and training of female politicians, role models and increased support for women to take up political and leadership roles in Nigeria.
As MacDella Cooper would always say, “Women it’s time to rise up. Women, Africa is waiting for us to rise. There are strong women out there and we are coming strong.”