By Justina Auta
Women on Thursday, urged President Bola Tinubu to lend his voice and political will to enforce the affirmative action by the 10th National Assembly for inclusion of women in sustainable development.
The women made the call during the 2024 Voice of Women (VOW) conference and award on Tuesday in Abuja.
The theme of the conference was “National Dialogue of Grassroots and Urban Women: Achieving Women’s inclusion for a Sustainable Nigeria”.
Toun Sonaiya, Convener VOW 2024 and Chief Executive Officer, Women Radio 91.7FM, highlighted the need for more women in positions of power, authority and leadership to ensure gender equality and increase women empowerment.
“I call on President Bola Tinubu to lend his voice and political will to getting the 74 extra seats bill passed by the 10th National Assembly.
“There is need to be deliberate and intentional, using your coice and political will to do more and enable Nigerian women’s inclusion to global standards,” she said.
Sonaiya appreciated the president for the Nigerian Education Loan Fund (NELFUND) loan.
She urged parents to encourage girls to take advantage of the initiative to enable them access financial support.
“Our journey as women towards an inclusive and sustainable Nigeria is far from over, but our focus on the bigger picture must remain unwavering for future generations of women,” she said.
Also, Sen. Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, representing Kogi Central Senatorial District, harped on the need for deliberate safety net policies and programmes that would alleviate the challenges affecting women.
Akpoti-Uduaghan cited cultural norms, sexual harassment, violence and other divisive tendencies as challenges that have affected women.
On the part of women entrepreneurs especially those at the rural communities she stressed the need for specific programmes targeted at grassroots women for a sustainable Nigeria.
“We must intentionally build partnerships with grassroots. We need to harness the potentials of women in rural communities.
“We must dismantle systemic barriers limiting women in grassroots from attaining leadership,”she said.
Nkiruka Onyejeocha, Minister of State for Labour and Employment, stressed the need to increase women’s representation and connect with rural women, who play critical role nation building.
Onyenjeocha, said: “Our power as women lies in our collective ability to support each other.”
Ms Beatrice Eyong, UN Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, represented by Patience Ekeoba, National Programme Officer, UNWomen, advocated the need for programmes and initiatives to improve gender equality.
“We must acknowledge that women’s empowerment is not merely a matter of equality, but a foundation for sustainable development, inclusive governance and resilient society.
“Women at every level of society have the unique ability to shape lives, especially women at the grassroots.
“They are able to redefine norms. They are able to create systems of governance,” she said.
Highlights of the event included conferment of awards on notable Nigerians for their commitment towards women empowerment.
Other activities were panel discussion on “Garnering support for females in leadership and governance amongst grassroots women to achieve a sustainable and inclusive Nigeria”.
NEWS AGENCY OF NIGERIA