By; IBRAHIM ADAMU, Kaduna
Women political rights advocate, Mr. Isaac Nom has predicted that female gender will determine winners of elective positions in the forthcoming 2023 general election. He made the assertion in an interview with newsmen on the sidelines of a women sensitization workshop in Kaduna on Wednesday December 14, 2023. Mr. Nom, Facilitator of Women Political Empowerment Project, a non-profit organization for female gender participation and inclusion in politics and governance, based his prediction on numerical strength and more awareness of women on their rights and responsibilities in Nigerian political space. The women rights political activist stated that women as bedrocks of any civilised society, should be given the chance and leverage to occupy sensitive leadership positions so they could contribute their quota in growth and development of the nation. He expressed optimism in the level of political awareness among the female gender , saying more and more women were vying for political seats in the country’s representative democracy . He said there is room for improvement so that Nigeria can achieve 35 per cent Affirmative Action on Women Inclusiveness in elective and appointive positions . Mr. Nom however, scored Nigerian political parties high in complying with the UN Affirmative Action, adding that some parties had gone beyond 35 per cent . ” Some political parties ensure they have women as flag bearers standing for elections which is a welcome development that will enrich our system and pave the way for political justice and equity. ” Having a balance in our political arena is a step in the right direction in our quest to sanitize our politics. ” The important role gender equality and equity play in ensuring growth and development cannot be overemphasized because , principle of sense of belonging which is an integral ethos of democracy can be adequately enshrined in our system. . ” I enjoin important and critical stakeholders, particularly our decision makers to give women more leverage to prove themselves in a wider space as they do in a small family units where they provide morality, guidance and teach values,” he appealed.
