HFDI Hold Townhall Meeting On Enhancing Women Participation in Politics In Osun
Stakeholders in Osun state has been called upon to enhance women participation in politics by Hold for Family Development Initiatives HFDI to embrace inclusion of women in politics as part of its political development initiative.
This is as the organization charged the participants to ensure that a political levelled play ground is made available for women in politics according to the global standard of gender equality mantra.
The disclosure was made in an opening remarks by the HFDI Program Manager Falana Adeola at the two-day stakeholders townhall meeting, held at Adegbola hall Modakeke, Osun state.
At the program she highlighted key takeaways and discussed advancing women’s political participation in the South West Nigeria, a initiative supported by the German Federal Foreign Office through ifa’s Zivik funding programme.
In his welcome address, the Executive Director of HFDI Ambassador Dr. Aremu Stephen Akinyele emphasized the global importance of gender equality in political participation, and he encouraged the participants to work in collaboration to enhance women participation in politics.
Affirming that the time has come for the narrative to change, he postulated that the project which is ongoing in the South West Nigeria, is to equip the women politicians: elected females and the appointed women, with necessary details in their quest to represent women at the various level of governments.
Ambassador Aremu opined that the objectives of the meeting is to raise more awareness about the importance of women’s participation in politics and to discuss challenges faced by women in political spheres, as well as to develop strategies for increasing the number of female candidates in elections.
In his discuss, a facilitator, Mr Festus Ojewumi talked on assessment of women participation in Nigeria, asserted on the need for improvement ando possible way forward to further enhance women’s political participation.
Another facilitator Mr Onitiju Kehinde, conducted a stage drama to access the participants knowledge about political program, and he further talked on some of the barriers hindering women participation in selective and elective positions.
He encouraged the women present at the meeting to support fellow women and urged the participants to also support Persons with special needs (the Persons With Disabilities PWDs), so as to further strengthen Inclusion.
During the interactive session, the participants shared experiences, and build connections to support each other’s political ambitions, while also expressing happiness about the laudable program, and promise to step down the knowledge from the meeting to their group, and to give support to women aspirants.
A significant outcome at the townhall meeting with political stakeholders was the signing of a commitment communique, and pledge to publicly endorse female candidates in both elective and selective positions, thereby promoting gender equality in politics.
Participants at the townhall meeting were representatives of INEC, CSOs, FOMWAN, League of Imams, Traditional worshipers, Traditional Chiefs, Market women, youth groups, political groups, Women wing of PFN, men wing of PFN, Artisans, PWD, PLHIV, NAWOJ among others.