Kaduna Dep. Gov. decries declining women representation in elective positions

From: Femi Oyelola, Kaduna

The Deputy Governor of Kaduna State, Dr. Hadiza Balarabe has decried the declining women representation in elective positions in Nigeria, despite constituting a large percentage of the population.
He tasked women to increase their participation in politics.
Addressing a stakeholders’ consultative dialogue on increasing women’s participation in politics yesterday organised by Women In Politics in conjunction with National Democratic Institute, Legal Awareness for Nigerian Women and UKaid, the Deputy Governor noted that women participation in politics brings benefits to the system.
Dr. Hadiza Balarabe, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Kaduna state Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, Mrs. Umma Ahmed, said, “women and children constitute more than half of our population, yet their representation in governance and leadership positions is so minute. Women representation in elective positions has been declining for some time now, even when their participation brings benefits to the system.
“Women In Politics couldn’t have come at a better time than now when a new administration is just beginning where the project would strengthen capacity of elected women to perform their roles and responsibilities. It is also a good time for political parties to widen the space for greater women participation which hopefully will give us better result in the next elections.”
Speaking on what the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development has been doing, Ummi said they bought in into the programme and they would be supporting it because it is in line with their aspiration at the ministry and at the state level. “For us in the ministry a lot has been done and we are striving to do more. I’m pleading our support for the project.”
The immediate past Deputy Speaker Kaduna State House of Assembly, Hon. Nuhu Goro Shadalafiya said women politicians are undone by their inadequate will power to follow their aspiration till the end. “What kills women is retreating, now let’s stop the attitude of retreating, let’s move forward with determination. Once you put yourself forward don’t retreat.
“I will work with a woman who want to be governor of Kaduna state in 2023, it’s doable, its achievable. Women should support men but they should support themselves more. Religious leaders should guide our women to where they needed to be and not discourage them.”
A chairmanship candidate for Jema’a local government area in the last council polls, Mrs Cecilia Musa urged aspiring women to know how to position themselves in politics by carrying out community services that would endear them to the people in their constituency. “The greatest challenge women face in politics is financial capability because most women don’t have big business to fund politics.”
For Mrs Rebecca Sako – John, the programme “is a post election analysis of score card of women in the last general elections because Women In Politics project aimed at increasing women participation in politics. We have identified some young girls interested in politics, we have matched them with mentors and some of them have joined political parties.”