BRING HER IN: JDPMC Advocates Inclusive Women Political Participation In Osun
…as Hon Nike Omoworare, Mercy Ayodele speaks on Challenges and the way-out…
By Abisola Ariwodola,
Justice Development and Peace Makers Center, JDPMC has advocated inclusive women political participation in Osun state, through ‘Bring Her In’ project.
The organization which focused on involvement of professional and religious women bodies to promote its campaign, featured first deputy speaker in Osun state House of Assembly, Hon Olanike Omoworare and Hon Mercy Ayodele on promoting women political participation and the way-out.
With the theme: “the role of women executives in professional and religious bodies towards effective women political participation”, the quarterly dialogue meeting with women stakeholders, with the objective of promoting inclusive, participatory, accountable and representative democratic governance in Osun, Ekiti and Oyo state, held at Catholic Chancery facilities, Diocesan Headquarter, Osogbo.
In his opening remarks, the General Coordinator, Rev Father Peter Akinkunmi highlighted the need for increased women political participation from the low records with is against global standard.
Calling for reduction in gender based electoral violence, frowned at low women representation and he asserted that the time has come for women in all works of life to partner and reclaim their stance on having representation in the political spheres.
In her presentation, the first female deputy speaker in Osun state, Hon Olanike Omoworare said inclusion of women in politics is apt, and called on the participants who are head of women professional and religious bodies to encourage their members to get into politics.
Also, Hon Mercy Ayodele, former Governorship aspirant in 2018 election opined that threats and violence drives women away from getting involved in politics, and she opined that politics needs money, hence a way of supporting women aspirants financially to be fashioned out.
The duo advocated for free forms for women aspirants, training and retraining, encouraging the girl child to have knowledge of politics, abolish patriarchal norms and limitations, and establish quota for women in political positions.
Speaking further, and while noting that women are naturally good and have capacity to multi task, they clamored for policy reforms that will help women, while maintaining that women are needed in politics.
The two presenters who are women politicians, applauded some women professional organizations like the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists NAWOJ, Federation of Women Lawyers, FIDA among others for promoting women in politics, and urged the women to use the tool of networking, public awareness, mentorship, partnership and validation of support in political participation and inclusion success.
The Program Manager, Mr Festus Ojewumi, who listed the objectives of the project also discussed thematic areas, advocacy to chairmen of political parties, political discussions, creation of rapid response team, and opening of survivor service center, as well as development of mobile app call to monitor general elections.