Sustainable development in Nigeria, according to Nana Shettima, wife of Vice-President Kashim Shettima and other stakeholders, depends on political equity and women’s empowerment.
They made the announcement at the Women of Worth Group Global Magazine’s unveiling and award dinner in Abuja.
Ms Shettima stated that despite several hurdles, Nigerian women remained determined to achieve their goals.
She stated, “I encourage you ladies to be strong and strive for success in everything you do because you hold the key to national progress.
“I urge you to bring everyone along, regardless of religion or nationality, to strive for inclusiveness in whatever you do, and to work together as a team, supporting one another to improve.
“I applaud the effort of the Women of Worth Global Group. This is a significant step toward boosting women and giving them hope in politics and other areas of life.
The keynote speaker, humanitarian and politician Amina Farouk, lamented that, despite the fact that women make up more than half of Nigeria’s population, “their political participation has been regressing over time.”
According to Ms Farouk, Nigeria has one of the lowest rates of female political participation in the world due to cultural and religious biases, a lack of funding, patriarchy, and stereotypes.
Other causes, she claims, include labeling female politicians as immoral, godfatherism, insecurity, and a poor party system.
Ms Farouk stated, “This is reflected in our parliament, as only three female senators and 17 female legislators are women among Nigeria’s 469 legislators and senators.” Nigeria ranks 149th out of 155 in terms of national female involvement rates.
“This is an awful figure. In Africa, which is far worse for us, Nigeria has only 6% female participation compared to the required 15%. Women are not simply better suited to party leadership posts; this needs to change. They need to become chairpersons and secretaries, among other things.
Former Minister of Women Affairs Pauline Tallen urged women to encourage and lift one another without discrimination so that they might advance in all aspects of life.
Comfort Adesoye, president of Women of Worth Global Group, stated that the debut of Women of Worth magazine was a critical step forward in the path to recognize, honor, and magnify women’s voices and achievements.
Ms. Adesoye stated, “Our mission is to highlight the extraordinary contributions that women make to society, whether in business, the arts, science, community service, or any other field.” These pages contain stories that inspire, empower, and encourage. Stories about women who have overcome obstacles, defied chances, and pursued their passions with unyielding persistence.
(NAN)
