ABUJA – As the 2015 general elections approach, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO) has called for more women representations in elective and appointive leadership positions in Nigeria.
This was contained in a statement issued by Mr Oluseyi Soremekun, the UN’s National Information Officer on Monday in Abuja, on behalf of the Director, UNESCO Regional Office, Prof; Hassana Alidou.
The statement made availabe to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) said Alidou spoke at UNESCO training workshop on ‘Gender and Transformative Leadership in Nigeria’.
According to the UNESCO official, the workshop was in continuation of the UN body’s support to the Nigeria’s electoral process.
“Lack of women leadership is not only in itself a sign of inequality, but it tends to perpetuate unequal gender relations through a lack of role models for young women’.
it said some 516 women sought political office in elective positions at various levels in Nigeria in 2007.
“While in 2011, more than 900 women contested for elections into the various offices, an increase of about 78 per cent,” the statement quoted Alidou as saying.
Alidou, however, regretted that even with such increases, the percentage of women currently in political offices in Nigeria was estimated to be eight per cent.
According to her, this is an indicator of the high levels of exclusion faced by women in the political arena.
The UNESCO official said the training was aimed at encouraging women who intended to go into leadership positions– whether appointive or elective– across the country.(NAN)
