The First Lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi has advocated a
special political party for women in the country.
The wife of the Governor, who made the call at the OSASU SHOW
Symposium in Abuja, stressed that such a political party would take
care of the interest of women as well as enable them to meet up with
their age long yearnings and aspirations.
Speaking further at the symposium with the theme “The 21st Century
Woman and Her Role in National Development”, Erelu Fayemi said it was
high time that women strived to adequately occupy the percentage slot
given to women in government.
Mrs. Fayemi who decried the current percentage of women in elective
position at National, State and Local Assemblies in the country was of
the opinion that a women political party in the country would fast
track meeting the 35% affirmative quota for women in the political
space.
She expatiated further that the platform was a prerequisite for
achieving political, social, economic and cultural value for women.
The Governor’s Wife explained that Ekiti government had put in place
policies and programmes that protect the rights of women which she
urged must be replicated in many states of the federation.
She used the forum to also advocate for constitution that would have
an affirmative action and quota for women to stipulate their
positions, needs and concerns.
“Women should be bold, educated, supportive and add value to
themselves in the face of a male dominated society”, she said.
In their separate remarks, the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan,
represented by Senator Representing River West, Mrs. Betty Okagua and
the former Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi noted that a
democracy without the full participation of women was a contradiction.
They both decried low representation of women at the National Assembly
as against what was witnessed in Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan Saudi Arabia
and Afghanistan.
Issues of Education, Business, Employment and STEM as well as
Governance, Politics and Advocacy were discussed by various Panelists
at the forum.
Among those present at the forum were Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake
Dickson, his counterpart from Abia Okezie Ikpeazu and Edo State Deputy
Governor, Phillip Shaibu among others.
The convener of the Symposium, Osasu Igbinedon said various
recommendations of speakers would be widely publicized for national
development.
Highpoint of the Symposium was the launch of OSASU show Foundation’s
21st Century Women and Girls Project 2020-2030.
