Sodiq Ojuroungbe
In a significant step towards attaining gender equality and inclusive governance, the House of Representatives has partnered with the United Nations to bolster the participation of women in decision-making processes.
The Speaker of the House, Tajudeen Abbas, on Thursday in Abuja, explained that the partnership is meant to amplify the Gender and Equal Opportunities Bill and the Bill on Women’s Parliamentary Seats.
Abbas, who was represented by his Deputy Speaker, Benjamin Kalu, said the advocacy partnership will serve as a tool to lobby other stakeholders, especially the constituents for women’s inclusivity.
“So the advocacy should not only be within the people’s parliament alone, it should go beyond here to the rural areas for the constituents to know why we want to go this way.
“Let them see the comparative analysis between our country and other countries, let them see what we are missing by not going this route all this while, and let them see what we are going to gain if we go this route,” he said.
He emphasised the need to build the capacity of women and sensitise women to support female aspirants.
Abbas said women should be encouraged to bring their best and contribute to national development and not compete with men or be seen as antagonistic.
Earlier, the UN Women’s Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms. Beatrice Eyong said Nigerians are looking up to the National Assembly to address the problem of women underrepresentation.
While about four per cent of women are elected to the National Assembly, only seven are serving in the 45-member federal cabinet.
Eyong said Nigeria is not doing well in the continent in terms of women’s representation in governance.
“This is the challenge that we must all work together to surmount. You have demonstrated leadership, dedication, and passion in this journey.
“UN Women is committed to walk this journey and to build a strong and sustainable partnership with your office and with the membership of the National Assembly,” she assured.
Eyong said that the UN Women, with financial contributions from the Governments of Canada and Norway, had since 2019 supported strategic partnerships focusing on enhancing women’s politics.
She said equal attention had also been given to economic empowerment, advancing the rights of women and girls, and strengthening women’s voice and leadership in the development, peace, security, and humanitarian response nexus, among others.
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