Women
INEC Trains Professional Women …Urges Them To Participate In Politics
Although women comprise 50.1% (NPC, 2006) of the Nigerian population, their citizenship status as well as their ability to participate actively and effectively in public policy, and to be visibly represented in decision-making at all levels are all greatly curtailed by socio-economic, cultural and psychological factors (Mark-Odu, 2000:4).
This not only affects the level and quality of female citizenship, it also raises questions as to the legitimacy of Nigerian democracy in practice. Nigerian women have risen to the challenge in all spheres of professional life. However, there remains an urgent need for professional women in the political space.
Speaking to professional women during a one-day training programme titled: “National Sensitisation Workshop For Professional Women On Participation In The 2019 General Elections,” organised by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for professional women across the country, recently in Abuja, the facilitator, Directing Staff, NIPSS, Kuru, Prof Funmi Para-Mallam charged professional women to leave the spectator mode, but ensure full and effective leadership in politics and decision-making at all levels.
Para-Mallam defined a professional woman as a member of a profession who earns a living from a specified professional activity guided by standard rules/ethics for conduct or a paid occupation, especially one that involves prolonged training and a formal qualification.”
She noted that sustainable development goal 5, targets 5.5 percent focus on Gender Equality and Women Empowerment, adding that women must convert all their professional capabilities to political capital.
Implications of female absence in politics is as a result of four Bills that was rejected since 2002-2016 which includes the Anti-violence 2002, Reproductive health 2005, CEDAW 2006/2007 and Gender and Equal Opportunities 2016.
According to her, “The National Gender Policy stipulates a temporary measure that government shall ensure at least 35 per cent female representation in all appointive and elective posts in order to correct existing gender-based imbalances in political representation.
“The INEC’s gender policy and the electoral system in line with international and national regulatory frameworks seeks to mainstream gender, eliminate gender discrimination and promote gender equality towards a just and democratic society, but the INEC gender policy of the year 2015, lacks teeth as parties are not specifically held accountable and electoral reform is absent,” the Professor added.
She emphasized that they must push through to ensure that they amend electoral law to comply with NGP in specifics, Empower INEC to reject non gender-inclusive party lists and practices, as well as engender internal party democracy, Abolish women’s wings over time to have a Proportional representation.
Para-Mallam explained further that this can only be achieved if women build bridges across party, ethnic and religious lines to promote shared agendas as well as Grassroots mobilization and constituency building practice to promote gender solidarity that genuinely supports female candidates.
She urge women professional bodies such, International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA), Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Situation Room across the country, among others to adopt strategies for broadening political space for women Electoral System, noting that no one would make the change for them.
Also speaking, while intimating the professional women on the key objectives of the training, the Deputy Director, Gender, INEC, Abuja, Mrs Blessing Obidegwu stated that analysis of previous elections shows that not many women from the professional class take part in the electoral process as voters, candidates, observers or election administrators, hence this became a concern and the need for the training.
The Deputy Director’s speech was presented by the Deputy Director, Voter Education, Publicity, Gender and Civil Society Organizations Liaison Department, INEC, Abuja, Mr Jamilu Sabiu stressed that democratic elections ought to reflect participation from all segments of the society including professional women.
According to her, “Women elites deserves the opportunity to bring their capacity and capability to bear and make their impact felt by getting actively involved in various electoral roles of their choice as a way of deepening our democracy and making it more inclusive.
“The recent INEC’s presentation of voters registered to the 91 political parties showed that in spite of all the encouragement, women’s registration as voters is 47 per cent as against 52.8 per cent of their male counterparts. This clearly shows that women did not make enough efforts to come out and register,” Obidegwu added.
She noted that although the actual reasons for political apathy among professional women in Nigeria, was yet to be known, but INEC believes that a forum of this nature would afford them the opportunity to discuss their concerns with a view to having them come on board as preparation for the 2019 General Elections draws nearer.
She added that the training was done so as to engage other women in voter education, address voter apathy, engage actively in the candidate nomination process to ensure that only the best candidates emerge, advance the electoral discourse within their sphere of influence, participate in governance, advocate for women in appointive posts, as well as advocate for good governance by holding political institutions accountable to their campaign promises and manifesto when the clinch to power.
Obidegwu explained that professional women world over are recognized and respected for their outstanding accomplishments in their various fields of endeavours, adding that the society adores women for daring to succeed in highly demanding careers which is perceived to be exclusively for the men.
She stressed further that professional women hold the promise for changing the narrative on gender inequality when they deploy their intellectual skills as their disposal to bear in politics and electoral activism, noting that the gap for now is their current lack for interesting politics which this sensitization forum intends to interrogate, noting that INEC as an Umpire has always ensured that Nigeria’s political landscape continue to be level and women-friendly.
She added that professional women in Nigeria are assured of a supportive environment to participate in the electoral process in any capacity, degree or role as they may choose stressing that since the last elections in 2015, INEC has improved its processes and procedures to ensure that gender is adequately mainstreamed in the electoral process.
Inclusion therefore, according to Para-Mallam, “Women who are already in political office have an onerous responsibility to serve as exemplary models for other women and men to respect and emulate – women have to work twice as hard to overcome stereotypes and win over hearts and minds – this is the simple but blunt reality.
“Women have unique abilities, styles and gifts that they can bring to the political space and should not seek to be men or beat men at their own game
“Most of all women must learn not to be short sighted by acting the PhD script (pull her down syndrome). Rather, women must develop the culture of supporting and promoting each other.
Obidegwu stated: “It is hoped that a compendium of roles and strategies that professional women could deploy to advance women’s political visibility in the 2019 General Elections and beyond would be developed from participants at the training.”
Susan Serekara-Nwikhana
Women
The Desire Of Every Woman In Marriage
A woman needs a man that is honest, trustworthy, nice, loving and financially stable.
There are no two ways about finance in marriage. No matter the level of love, If there is no money, it is always difficult.
Referring to the Biblical belief in Genesis 3:Your desire shall be unto you……..
That is one aspect the woman expects her husband to take care of.
A woman wants a husband that is not lazy, at least helping to do one or two things. A man that is educated and intelligent.
She knows that there is a trait that her husband has. Traits of taking care of people, giving freely to people and caring for her family.
A woman wants to love a husband that has family interest at heart. A man that spends time with his family, remembering his family even as he is away from home.
A woman should not antagonise her husband because of one error or the other. No matter the level of offence he may have committed, you still show some love.
According to the Scripture, it is with wisdom that the women builds her home.
It is not as if the woman will not monitor her husband, but to certain limit. Don’t be a monitoring spirit. Don’t allow anything to take your joy.
Don’t loose trust in your husband.
The idea of checking your husband’s phone should be discouraged. The more you check your husband and his phone, the more you loose your joy.
The home should not be a battle ground for a woman and man. A woman should be able to ask herself if the check on her husband will pay her any good.
Draw a line to a point where you checkmate your husband’s activities.
A woman wants a man that will love her and telling her you love her will be all she desires.
Eunice Choko-Kayode
Women
What Women Want In Yet-To -Be Husbands
What women want in their yet-to- be husbands matters a lot as far as marriage is concerned.
A woman desires a good fnancial prospect. Interestingly, some modern women place a man’s financial potential as more desirable than they have in the past.
Many decades ago, women ranked it lower on the list. It still comes in after items like love and maturity, but perhaps today’s women realise that a good economic partner is good husband material.
Good health has been an important characteristic for women through the 20th century and remains so these days. One might argue that because we’re living even longer, health plays a huge role in the success of a marriage. Women are anxious to know that their partners are healthy to be able to run the family together.
You discover that in most faith based organisations, would- be couples are mandated to go for medical tests to ascertain their health status as it concerns HIV/AIDS, Genotype and other related ones. This according to stakeholders is to ensure that couples raise healthy families.
Ambition has become less important to women over time, though it still being considered even if women nowadays are thriving in the workforce competing with the male folk. It may be because more women are thriving in the workforce, they want a husband who has earning power but are not looking for him to be the sole provider.
More women want husbands with pleasing disposition. They may not want a man who is always moody. A man who is always cheerful is whom they desire.
Surprisingly, a man’s likes do not rank as high on women’s list of wants as it used to. Until recently, women are more willing to accept a man for who he his, despite the inevitable mood he may be.
Sociability from both men and women rank very high on their marriag material list. And for both sexes, it has been steadily moving up the list for many years. The rise of the “love marriage,” a partnership based on attraction rather than practicalities (like wealth or status) might mean that married couples are more likely to be friends and have mutual circles of friends.
A lot of couples want to associate with others and then socialise. Attending parties of other friends forms part of their marriage requirements.
Women have placed education and intelligence top making it one of their most desirable male traits for decades. This timeline coincides with more and more women receiving college education themselves. Once education becomes important in women’s lives, it is a more attractive trait in potential husbands.
Of course when a woman is educated, she is likely to go for an educated man. When they are gainfully employed, their income boost the family affairs faster.
Today, women are much more attracted to men who are interested in home and family than they ever have been. Men who have desire for their home and children is whom they desire.
After a days job, a man will come home to ensure that his children are comfortable. Because most women today are expecting to be in dual-earner relationships, they want husbands who will be happy and willing to contribute at home. More women today even report that they hope he will take the lead at home.
A woman wants a man who is emotionally stable and mature. Growing big physically is not the issue but maturity in the heart.
Men, too, place a heavy emphasis on a potential wife’s emotional maturity, signaling that it is a key quality for a stable partnership. Women seem to look past appearance to the heart of the matter.
A woman wants a man who is not easily provoked. Dependable character is what some women want in marriage.
Women want husbands that they can count on, and this has not changed in recent years. Yes, women look to their spouses to be lovers and friends, they also want them to be supportive and trustworthy. They want to know that their husbands will be there and remain loyal. Men, too, desire dependable character from their yet-to be wives.
Mutual attraction and love from the first appearance is what they want till they become old.
The highest-rated characteristic women seek from men is mutual attraction and love. Some no longer look for a man who will provide everything, afterall they are also educated and are gainfully employed, they want to be in love.
For some women, even when the man do not provide household needs, the love shown on her is enough. When women had no job prospects and needed to marry, they desired love . The women’s movement has not only helped women pursue careers, it has also given them more choice in love.
Women
Echoes Of IWD : Need To Invest In Women
As this year’s Internatinal Women’s Day (IWD) has come and gone, there are calls from different quarters on the need to invest in women so that we can achieve accelerated growth.
It was, indeed, a thing of joy when Rivers Women Unite For Sim, took delivery of large quantities of sanitary towels and some bags of rice provided them for this year’s celebration.
Many young women expressed joy that they got such gesture since some of them have financial problems getting sanitary towels whenever they are on.
Some secondary school students were also lucky to have a share of the benefits. They also got some sanitary towels.
The Rivers State Commissioner for Women Affairs organised a platform to celebrate and honour the women for the remarkable jobs they perform in their homes and society.
Addressing women on the occasion, the Hon. Commissioner for Women Affairs, Dr. Roseline Apawari Uranta, noted that women from time immemorial have been great pillars in achieving remarkable heights and stressed that IWD across the globe is pivotal all women for the roles they play in bringing, nurturing and sustaining life.
Dr. Uranta said that IWD, which started in 1911 and celebrated annually on March 8, is a global day that provides women a platform to address economic inclusion, participation in political and public life.
She said the day was set aside to look into lack of access to education for the girl-child, gender-based violence, child marriage, child trafficking, harmful cultural practices as well as other challenges facing women around the globe.
The Hon. Commissioner, who described March 8 as a day to celebrate the socio-economic, cultural and political achievements of women, emphasised that it is a day that offers women the opportunity to reflect on progressive achievements.
Noting that it is an opportunity to call for change, she stressed that it is also an opportunity to celebrate acts of courage and every achievement made by ordinary women who did extraordinary things and are remembered in history.
She noted that the IWD2024 theme:”Invest In Women, Accelerate Progress”, is timely and apt because according to her, to achieve gender equality, we must ensure that the rights, responsibilities and opportunities of women do not elude them.
Her words: ” We must see investing in women as a human right issue and consider investing in women as a social tool to eradicate poverty since women are helpmeet in the homes while a handful are breadwinners in their respective families”.
The commissioner urged women to uphold the deliberate act of investing in themselves, be it furthering formal education, developing a new skill as well as learning a trade.
“Shun idleness, always find something positive and productive to do, regardless of your age, social status and financial capabilities”, she said.
In a paper presentation, Dr. Dabota God’swill Jumbo, reiterated that investing in women would attract good and positive dividends to herself and the society at large and noted that it is essential in addressing poverty, hunger and climate change.
The guest speaker said women need more opportunities in elective and appointive positions, hence the need to encourage and support them in politics.
According to her, when you invest in women, they will be able to create safer environment devoid of gender-based violence.
In a goodwill message, the spokesperson, Rivers Women Unite For Sim, Mrs Charity Deemua appreciated the organisers for making it possible for women to gather and celebrate themselves.
She commended those who created a day like March 8 of every year to celebrate women and regretted that the girl-child was seen as a second-class person decades ago.
The former commissioner, Rivers State House of Assembly Commission, described those who taught it wise for women to celebrate as conquerors, tough and strong.
International Association of World Peace Advocates, a world-class organisation with the United Nations, honoured different categories of women.
In Cross River State, 150 women were empowered with about N15m to boost their small and medium scale businesses.
According to stakeholders, the women empowerment is vital in addressing social, economic and political challenges and will make them self-reliant.
An NGO, Association of Professional Women Engineering Technologists (APWET), said it’s aim is to promote professional excellence among engineering personnel, advocating for women and girl-child education.
With what we saw in terms of response to women’s call on issues affecting them from relevant authorities, we are optimistic that the women will do better whenever they are empowered.
If we must kick out cervical, breast and other forms of cancer in women, underage marriage, prostitution, we must invest in women.
There were goodwill messages from National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), International Federation of Female Lawyers (FIDA), Medical Women Association of Nigeria (MWAN), Nigeria Copyright Commission (NCC, Nigeria Association of Female Journalists (NAWOJ), among others.
By: Eunice Choko-Kayode
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