2023: LEADS-Nigeria, NDI Offer Supports As Kaduna Women In Politics Begin Consultations

 

Group of Kaduna women under Women in Politics (WIP), a social project, being implemented by Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women (LEADS-Nigeria) with support from National Democratic Institute (NDI), have begun consultations ahead of the 2023 elections in Nigeria.

Fielding questions from the newsmen at the venue of the meeting in Kaduna on Tuesday, Executive Director, LEADS-Nigera, Barrister Rebecca Sako-John said, though only a few women were elected into some public offices in 2019, the consultation became necessary to assess how women fared in that election with a view to making amends where necessary.

“This stakeholders dialogue on women political participation is very important to us considering how women have been poorly represented in our political space. This is one good course women in all walks of life should support in anyway they can.

“We are doing post-election analysis of 2019 election to see how our female politicians fared. We deliberately chose critical stakeholders which include parties leaders, religion and traditional leaders, women politicians themselves among others to see how we can gain their honest support ahead of 2023 by God’s grace,” she stated.

Speaking earlier, Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Human Services and Social Development, Hajiya Umma K. Ahmed, promised her support for women in the state at all times. 

She said, “the project has our buy-in. We are with them and they should not relent in their efforts. We have started. We should not stop until we see the expected results which is our active participation in politics in Kaduna state.”

The immediate past deputy speaker, Kaduna State House of Assembly, Shehu Goro Shadalafiya, reiterated the need for men to have women around especially, in politics in order to have all inclusive governance.

“I have work all my life with women. I have always have women as my bosses until when I got to the assembly and have a male boss.

“We have seen a lot of women who have done well in their area of interests. The likes of the late Queen Amina, the late Dora Akunyili and so many others who are doing well in their callings.

“Women should move from being supportive in political campaigns to leading the campaigns. Women had given massive support to Governor Nasir El-Rufai in his administration, hence, his success so far,” he noted.

President, Women Mentoring and Leadership Initiative (WAMFOI) and a former member of House of Representatives, Hon. Florence D. Aya, specifically called on political parties to leave some slot for women to reduce the burdens they usually go through in their quest to represent their people in government.