UNESCO concludes training on 2015 polls in Sokoto

SOKOTO – The United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has conducted a two-day training workshop in Sokoto as part of its support to the electoral process in Nigeria.
The News Agency of Nigeria ( NAN) reports that the workshop, which was attended by participants from the states in the North West geo-political zone, was opened by Gov. Aliyu Wamakko .
A statement signed by a UNESCO communication officer, Mr Macaulay Olushola, issued in Sokoto on Thursday said Wamakko reiterated his administration’s focus on multi-sectoral approach to women empowerment.
The governor was represented by the Commissioner for Women and Children Affairs, Hajiya Kulu Nuhu.
‘’ These range from skills acquisition programmes to free education, to enable them to become self-reliant and for overall socio-economic transformation.
‘’ We are also committed to the objective of the project, as the state government has approved and made provision for the step-down training of 200 women across the state for political participation process to be done by the ministry.”
The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hayiya Zainab Maina, represented by Mr. Omoefe Omonigho, said that the occasion was both historic and unique.
She said its uniqueness was because it attracted “an unprecedented number of participation as well as leadership personalities in the society”.
While commending the efforts of UNESCO for supporting the programme, the minister lamented that in spite of the large population of women in Nigeria, their participation in politics and decision making had been dismal.
‘’This state of affairs has resulted in Nigeria not satisfying the provisions of the National Gender Policy that recommends 35 per cent public office for women, ‘’ she added.
The Regional Director of UNESCO office, Abuja, Prof. Hassana Alidou, represented by Mr. El-Hadi Diop, said the training was part of UNESCO’s support to the electoral process in Nigeria.
It was funded by the EU, UKAID, the Canadian Government and UNEDP, through the Democratic Governance and Development Project.
She added that the programme on gender and transformative leadership was initiated by UNESCO and Rutgers University in the U.S. to support African universities which were implementing gender programmes for higher education and civil society organizations. (NAN).