It is now known that about 86 women made the list of candidates being screened by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for the April general elections.

The Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Iyom Josephine Anenih said one of the female candidates is  flying the presidential flag of a political party, while three will contest governorship positions on different political platforms.

In a keynote address at the just-concluded regular meeting of the National Council on Women and Social Development in Port Harcourt, Iyom Anenih also said that 18 females emerged as senatorial candidates, 31 as House of Representatives candidates and 35 as  House of Assembly candidates.

The minister, who was happy with the victory of women in primaries of various political parties, however, said that the ministry in collaboration with United Nations  Women and Civil Society groups are mapping out strategies  in ensuring that the number of  women for elective positions did not lose in the final elections in about 10 weeks now.

The minister acknowledged the unprecedented increase in the number of female aspirants and traced it to several initiatives and activities by governments, including Women for Change Initiative  and civil society groups.

According to her, with the high number of women candidates for the April general elections, women have achieved the 35 per cent affirmative goal in the country.

On women’s participation in politics and governance, she said the ministry had successfully conducted capacity building for female aspirants in five zones of the country with a view to sharpening their negotiation skills and strategies in order to leverage on the available political space in the 2011 general elections and beyond.

Mrs Anenih also used the occasion to charge state governors to establish gender units in ministerial departments and agencies as a policy tool in ensuring the integration of more women into state institutions.

She also solicited the support of the Council of Women and Social Development in the days ahead in the task of impacting on the lives of the target groups, especially the widows, less-privileged women, orphans and the disabled as well as children across the country.

Mrs Anenih further noted that her ministry was equally providing educational and health support services for orphans and vulnerable children

Currently, she said that about 28,880 OVCs have been established across the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, with about 7,695 OVCs spread in 24 states.

The Women Affairs Minister, while denying allegations that the Ministry had abandoned persons with disabilities, remarked that it was their core mandate to oversee the welfare of such people.

In line with this mandate, she said a national baseline survey on person with disabilities was being conducted in conjunction with the National Bureau of Statistics. She said that  once the exercise was concluded, the plight of the disabled would be addressed appropriately.

Enoch Epelle & Emmanuella Azubuike