HFDI-Women Participation In Politics: Ekiti Reiterates Commitment As Model For South West State
By Ifeoluwa Nelson,
In its approach to ensure gender equality and inclusion in South West Nigeria, Hope for Family Development Initiative, HFDI in collaboration with the German Federal Foreign Office’s funds by Ifa (Institut für Auslandsbeziehungen) through the Zink Funding Programme, has gotten the commitment of stakeholders in Ekiti state to ensure that the state leads the women participation and inclusion in politics in the zone.
This is because the state government has elected and appointed women in his cabinet, as well as the state House of Assembly.
This was the summation of the relevant stakeholders at the two-day consultative meeting in Ekiti State which focused to discuss and strategize the project titled “Advancing Women’s Political Participation Through Female Elected Candidates in the South West Nigeria.
In his opening remarks, the Executive Director HFDI, Ambassador Dr Aremu Stephen Akinyele lauded the stakeholders for choosing to support women participation in politics, and it also thanked Ekiti State government, Governor Bioduns Abayomi Oyebamiji for inclusion of women in his administration.
Ambassador Aremu charged the participants at the consultative meeting on the need to support women in politics in all ramification.
Speakers such as Ekiti IPAC Chairman Hon Daramol Owoola, Permanent Secretary Ministry of Women represented by Mrs Akomolafe Helen, INEC Gender Desk officer Mrs Ganiyat Famobio, NAWOJ Chairperson Mrs Fatimo Bello, Coalition for Civic Education Olajumoke Omishore and Hon Adewale Afolabi agreed that women are important in the political circle and should be included in same.
The Ekiti Chairman, Christian Association of Nigeria Reverend Dr Emmanuel Aribasoye, Women wing of CAN Mrs Asakome Taye, Ameera Jimoh Aishat of Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria FOMWAN, Chairman Traditional Worshipers ObaAla Ojofolorunso, Iyaloja Ekiti Chief Mrs Ogunjobi, JONAPWD Women Leader Bamikole Gbemisola and Nigerian Youth Congress Comrade Rebecca opined on sustainability of women participation and inclusion in politics.
They all, at the consultative meeting deliberated on effective strategy to ensure 35% affirmative of women’s political participation in the South West region of Nigeria by engaging stakeholders at various levels, including political parties, civil society organizations, media, and the general public.
Highlighting their views about the project, they also deliberated on the existing challenges hindering women’s participation in politics, such as cultural barriers, gender stereotypes, lack of financial resources, and limited access to political networks, stigma, low self-esteem, lack of support from fellow women and also from men.
The participants exchanged ideas on advocacy approaches, capacity-building initiatives, and collaboration policy amendment, training for female aspirants’ mechanisms & media awareness to promote women’s political empowerment.
Leveraging on existing initiatives and platforms to support female elected candidates, the participants gave their support for the advancement of female political participation by electing female candidates into elective and selective positions in Ekiti State, adding that more space can be created for women.