By; OLADELE ADEDAYO, Ado-Ekiti
Apparently dissatisfied by the recurring decimal over the years in the promotion of gender imbalance allegedly by politicians in the dispensation of governance across the country, a gender advocate and Human Rights Activist, Mrs Mufuliat Fijabi, has stressed the need for it to be promptly addressed.
Fijabi who is also the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Women Trust Fund (NWTF) made the advocacy in Ado-Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital on Wednesday, while declaring open a one-day training programme tagged, “Improving Electoral And Accountability Project”(IEIA) Training of Campaign Promises Trackers organised for women in the state.
She also asked political actors to always fulfill their campaign promises and manifestos and as well ensure gender balance in the appointment of their cabinet members.
The NWTF CEO however expressed dissatisfaction on the low involvement of women in governance,added that the untoward development could bring negative impact on the nation’s democracy.
Fijabi further stressed the need for an inclusive governance where men and women would contribute and make a better policy that would put the country in a better position.
The gender advocate who lamented over the economy and security challenges in the country, posited that the situation called for all hands to be on deck.
She also called for a better position for female gender, saying the move would further ensure balancing, equity in governance.
“The current economic reality and security challenges in some parts of the country have driven us to identify the need for all inclusive, irrespective of gender to come together in order to make things better. We cannot continue to ride on a one-sided policy in our democracy in Nigeria. Women and men need to contribute to the decisions and policy that would impact in the lives of the citizenry” she stated.
Describing the country democracy as one-sided policy, stressed the needs for politicians to always find a better place for women in their manifestoes while soliciting for the votes of the people.
Speaking on the training, Fijabi said it is being targeted at building the capacity of women in Ekiti State, apparently to demonstrate their commitment to inclusive governance by looking at the campaign promises of the political class before elections and see the extent they adhere to gender balancing as the governance process unfolds in Ekiti.
She explained that the training would further build the capacity of Ekiti women and enable them to show interest in the policy, administration and governance in the State.
Meanwhile, in a lecture delivered on the ocassion by a Newspaper Columnist and Author, Mr Jide Ojo, stressed the needs for women to always launch a track campaign promises of the politicians and identify issues in the promises and manifesto.
The lecture entitled “Understanding campaign promises from gender perspective” Ojo stressed the needs for women in Ekiti State to hold the present administration in the State accountable in implementing its six-point agenda from gender perspective.
He called on the women to always adopt legal context with no violent approach and diplomatic way in tracking politicians campaign promises.
“Always ensure what the government has in its programme for wellbeing of the women in general, remember that women has the largest voting bloc in every election, they will defy rain and sun, ensure what a particular government is doing to better their wellbeing”
P0The One-day programme which featured participants from various women groups in Ekiti State also featured activities like delivery of goodwill messages, practical session and filing of report form among others.
