Of a truth, women participation in politics is insignificant in our country Nigeria.

During the pre-colonial era, Nigerian women were very active in politics. They demonstrated awareness about their political rights through the Aba women of 1929 in which they fought the colonial rulers, a supposition that they would be taxed at a time of declining profit from the palm produce trade.

Despite their limited roles, Nigerian women have collective interest of speaking with one voice.

Findings have shown that the Nigerian woman performs five multiple roles. She is a mother, home manager, community leader and organiser, producer, social, cultural and political leader.

The 1995 Beijing Conference in China was a clarion call for the reawakening from age old bondage and cultural barriers. Significant progress have been recorded by female gender in politics in Nigeria in recent times.

Nigerian women waited for so long to have the first female senator in 1983, Senator Franca Afegbuna.

In 1992, out of 91 (ninety one)  senatorial seats into the National Assembly, a seat was won by a woman Kofo Akerele Bucknor from Lagos State. But in 1999, women won three seats in the senatorial namely Florence Ita, Stella Omu and Kirat Rasaki Gwandabe.

Presently, there are nine female senators in the National Assembly helping to shape events in legislature. They are Senators Joy Emordi (Anambra North), Gbemiso Saraki (Kwara Central), Senator Chris Anyanwu (Imo East), Hajia Zainab Abdukudir (Kure Niger), Iyabo Obasanjo Bello (Ogun Central).

Others include Lady Uffort Ekaette (Akwa-Ibom South), Mrs Patricia Akwashi (Nassarawa), Nkechi Nwogu (Abia Central) and Senator Grace F. Bent (Adamawa). As it is, the present political dispensation has a record of six female deputy governors including Erelu Olusola Obada, Osun State, Alhaji Salmont Makanjiu ola Badru (Ogun), Mrs Virgy Etiaba (Anambra State), Dr Mrs Ada Okuonu (Imo State), Mrs Sara Adebisi Sosan (Lagos State) and Mrs Pauline .K. Tallen (Plateau State). Women need more political awareness and consciousness.

Women marginalisation in the political sphere is apparent. Not a single executive state governor is a woman. A number of reasons may account for this and include apparent discrimination and the difficult methods of conducting political affairs at party and community levels that make it difficult for women to participate effectively in politics.

It is worthy to note that our President, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, holds women in high esteem when it comes to politics.

Mrs Priscillia Ibienimi, a politician and business woman advised that women should be given preference in terms of elective positions, stressing that the rule adopted by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) should be religiously implemented where it is stated, that where women seek for nomination and elective position, be it councillorship position, or chairmanship position if it is only one woman, such woman automatically becomes the candidate of the party without any primaries to be conducted with her male counterpart.

Participation of women in politics is still very low said Madam Lali Green, a renown politician. She advocated a campaign for enlightenment of women. She lamented that women shy away from politics because of the do or die nature of politics contending that women cannot withstand men in terms of violence, though there are women that are wild in nature.

Mrs Lali Green reiterated the need that women are willing to take up the challenge and rise to the rostrum to defend the cause of women in Nigeria’s politics if given the right political equilibrium.

It is pertinent to recall that late former president Alhaji Musa Yar’Adua of Blessed memory kept to his promise appointing 30 per cent women into his cabinet.

The late president kept to his promise through the appointments of the following, Professor Dora Akunyili, Minister of Information and Communication, Mrs S. H. Sulaiman, Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Deziani Allison Madueke, Minister of Mines  and Steel Development, Mrs Fidelia .A. Njeze, Hon Minister of State, Agriculture and Water Resources, Hajia Aisha Dukku, Hon Minister of State Education.

Also inclusive is Mrs Grace Ekpiwhre, Hon Minister of State, Works  and Housing, Ms Amal Pepple was the Head of Service of the Federation while Mrs Farida Waziri is the Economic and Financial Crime Commission Boss.

Women participation in politics has taken a progressive leap since the advent of the nation’s democracy making a difference in the lives of women to become more politically conscious, focused and service to humanity.

Nonetheless, women need courage and support from their male counterparts, the civil society and other individuals as women are considered to be in various positions to provide effective leadership as in other countries.

The pathetic state of womanhood threw a challenge to spouses of rulers in this country, hence the birth of programmes in the 20th century such as better life for rural women and its success and Family Support Programme 1995. Today, we have Pet Programmes to alleviate the suffering of women, change her perspective to fit into the changes and challenges of the 21st century. Such programmes include Women Trafficking and Child Labour Eradication Foundation (WOTCLEF) The Child Care Trust.  Empowerment Support Initiative (ESI) in Rivers State, is a household name because destinies of women have reshapened and reshapened by the acquired Taxi given to beneficiaries through the wife of the Governor of Rivers State, Dame Judith Amaechi. The glory goes to God and thanks to a mother of great vision and love for humanity who has helped Rivers women to sustain their families with the commercial taxis.

Also, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dame Patience Ibifaka Jonathan, an amiable woman is endeared to many for her philanthropic and charitable works to widows and orphans.

Founder of the A. Aruera Reach Foundation that over the last eight years trained 4,000 women in different skills to enable them take care of themselves and their families.

Indeed she is a role model adding value to the lives of women, orphans and the less privileged.

Her soup kitchen largesse has turned the lives of women around for the better.

Dame Patience Jonathan assisted with medical care on children with heart condition.

Recently, she was in her home state Rivers to launch her dream Women for Change Initiative.

Actually, women have come a long way in Nigeria and should be treated equally with their male counterparts. No preferential treatment should be given to the men. Women are working very hard to keep this country going.

Julie Jumbo