By DEBORAH AKPEDE
LAGOS- The Commissioner for Information, Ondo State, Mrs Bamidele Ademola-Olateju, has called on the Federal Government to give women more space in governance.
She made the call at a virtual Media Event of the Akin Fadeyi Foundation with theme: “Gender Inclusive Governance;; on Tuesday.
According to her, there is need for opportunities for women in running the affairs of the country.
“The role of women is important; we are capable just like men, give women space in governance.
“There are obstacles erected against women in the political space, the affirmative action pushed into the Senate was rejected.”
She urged women to be involved in politics.
“We have the population, we vote for the men, as women for us to achieve this we have to stand and support one another.
“We can occupy the space by working for ourselves.
“For us to be inclusive, we need to challenge the patrichal dominance of political bodies by having a well organsed movement.”
She urged women not to relent.
“We cannot give up, we have to take radical action but not violent.
“If we want to lead and be successful in politics we must build power from the bottom.
“Do not forget the people you know from your primary, secondary and university days, to be powerful, you have to grow.
“Men are not better and smater than us, we solve problems and can manage intrigues, conspiracy and others better than men.
“It is just that we are not present at the table,” she said.
Ademola-Olateju urged women to string women along whenever they had the opportunity to be in governance.
“Wherever we find ourselves on the leadership scale, we must put into the front burner the issue affecting women.”
The commissioner advised women in leadership positions to hold it in trust and make sure they did not erect barriers for other women to grow.
Dr Lilian Anomnachi, Executive Director, Technical Advice Connect LTD, expressed concern over the few numbers of women in politics.
“Only four per cent of women are in politics, women need to be nurtured, mentored so also hold power.
“The political space is dominated by men, we have been disadvantage and there are lot of equality.”
She urged women to have more gender transforming agenda that would bring women issues to the forefront.
“If we are going to get it right in governance and politics, we need to be intentional and have more gender transforming agenda that will bring women issues to the forefront.
“It is not something that will happen overnight, we must be intentional about it.
“There are capable women that can perform well not just in governance but in every fabrics of the society where leadership roles are being played.
“We are peace makers and better managers.”
Also, Mr Simon Kolawole, Chairman of the Akin Fadeyi Foundation, urged women not to be discouraged on the declining rate of their gender in governance.
“Do not allow the advocacy of women participating in politic to drop,” he said.
The Executive Director of the foundation, Akin Fadeyi, urged the Nigerian Government to give more support to women.
“Nigeria must support women, there must be increase in women participating in governance, they should not bear the name of a weaker vessel.
“It is time for women voices to be heard, it is time to have a space at the table,” Fadeyi said. (NAN)
