Gender Representation: Osun NAWOJ Advocates Participation To INEC, Collaborates On Sensitisation, Voter Education
… Commencement of Continuous Voter Registration, CVR announced by the Commission …
By Titilola Olaniyan,
For improved gender representation in political sphere, the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists NAWOJ Osun chapter has advocated for gender representation that will aide participatory development in political sphere.
NAWOJ delegation led by its Chairperson Comrade Abisola Ariwodola made the disclosure at the gender advocacy visit made to the Resident Electoral Commissioner Dr. Mutiu Olaleke Agboke of the Independent National Electoral Commission INEC in Osun state on Wednesday.
The association which commended INEC for its Election Management Bodies (EMBs) on Gender Responsiveness stated that having increased representation of women in governance is desirable and can be actualised by allowing women to effect their civic rights through electoral process.
Ariwodola said, “NAWOJ has been at the forefront of campaigning for inclusion and fair representation of women in positions of authority at both federal and state levels through its activities and programmes, she pinpointed that one of the ways of achieving this, aside appointments, is by mobilising women and giving adequate sensitisation during elections, and she called for more priorities on women participation in politics, voter education and promotion of gender equality and inclusion.
Speaking further, the Osun NAWOJ Chairperson also sought for collaboration between INEC and NAWOJ on Gender Policy: to have a strengthened networking and partnership, a strengthened institutional capacity and procedures, promote the civic right to life of women and the target beneficiaries via voters education and sensitisation, and contribute to improved quality of life, and access to the woman gender to vote and be voted for, and for political inclusion and participation through the electoral process.
Citing Osun state as example, she joined her voice to add that it’s time for change of narrative, of having no woman representation at the state House of Assembly and among the elected Senators and House of Representative members, and called on stakeholders to take concrete actions to improve and promote gender equality and inclusion.
In his remarks, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, Resident Electoral Commissioner, REC, for Osun State, Dr Mutiu Olaleke Agboke, called for intensified advocacy for women participation in politics and voter registration.
Dr Agboke who commended the Osun State chapter of the Nigerian Association of Women Journalists, NAWOJ, for being passionate about the female gender and their matters, emphasised that INEC’s gender policy is inclusive and promotes collaboration and balance between both genders in the political space.
The Osun REC at the gender advocacy visit by the female members of the pen profession highlighted the low representation of women in politics to low turn out and participation, and he urged NAWOJ to step up its campaign efforts.
He said, “NAWOJ should start the campaign by increasing the tempo of engagement and bring the politicians to the table. I am encouraging the association to foster platforms where women are motivated to contest and participate actively in elections.
“Encourage the women to come forward. Let them come even if they lose the election. We will continue to make women have a say and occupy positions of authority, but they must demonstrate capacity,” he stated.
On the issue of voter registration, the Osun INEC boss noted that many women lack Permanent Voter Cards, PVCs, because they are not registered, adding that the first step to participation or inclusion is registration.
He reminded NAWOJ that INEC will commence its Continuous Voter Registration, CVR, exercise on August 18, 2025 for online registration and on August 25, 2025 for in-person physical registration.
Dr Agboke urged NAWOJ members to help pass the message to women across the state on the need to register, collect their PVCs, and turn out to vote, noting that participation is the first step towards influencing governance.
Also, the NAWOJ Secretary, Oluwaranti Ojewumi in her remarks described the Osun REC as an amiable and versatile Commissioner who is discharging his duties well, and she emphasised the association’s step to ensure continuous sensitisation and mobilisation of women through electoral process to achieve representation at various levels.