NGO ups social inclusion advocacy for women in Abaji

By Stanley Onyekwere

To ensure active participation of women in electioneering processes, a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO), Abiodun Essiet Initiative for Girls (AEIG) has stepped up social inclusion advocacy for women in Abaji Area Council of Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
The NGO stressed the need for stakeholders to always be politically accommodating, especially towards women in the area.
Our correspondent reports that the FCT Original Inhabitants (OI) project team of AEIG held a hall meeting on gender equality and social inclusion with the theme: Raising Awareness on Violence Against Women in Politics During Electoral Processes, which had hundreds of participants in attendance, on Wednesday.
In her remarks, AEIG Founder, Mrs. Abiodun Essiet, noted that everyday, women suffer violence in public life and even worse for those who are actively involved in the political processes.
According to her, the form of violence they suffer ranges from physical, psychological and even sexual.
She added people should learn to respect the political views and inclination of others and disagreements shouldn’t result to violence.
Equally, she said the Judiciary and law enforcement agencies should do more within the ambit of the law to bring perpetrators to justice.
“Election is not war, but an opportunity for us to exercise our rights, and also participate in entrenching democracy in this country.
“So, please encourage more women in Abaji Area Council to actively participate in the process, by giving them enabling environment. This has become imperative has the 2023 general elections draw closer”, she reiterated.