By Joy Baba – Yesufu
The Director General (DG), Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development (MBNCWD) Dr Asabe Vilita Bashir has decried the gross underrepresentation of women in governance and decision-making in Nigeria, despite making up nearly half of the population of the nation.
Bashir said women hold only a small fraction of leadership positions in government, business, and civil society noting that this disparity is not only unfair, but also hinders our collective progress and development.
She stated this Friday in Abuja, at the flag off ceremony of the second phase of the MBNCWD/UN Women Project on Resource Centres for Women in governance and decision-making.
According to her, to address this disparity, the Maryam Babangida National Centre for Women Development in collaboration with UN Women and the Canadian Government had established 3 Zonal Resource Centres, in Abuja, Calabar and Maiduguri to provide resources for women in Politics.
She added thag under the first phase, the Centres were called Resource Centres for Women in Politics but in the course of implementing the project, they realized the limitations in the name, and this called for a change in tact and further consultations.
“Today, we are happy to announce that we are flagging off the second phase of the project with a broader focus on women in Governance and Decision Making. These centres are to be a hub for empowering women to take on leadership roles and make their voices heard.
“It will provide a comprehensive range of programmes and services, including; mentorship initiatives to connect women with experienced leaders who can offer guidance, support, and valuable insights; Research and policy analysis to inform decision-making and ensure that women’s perspectives are taken into account.
“Also networking opportunities to build relationships, collaborations, and a sense of community among women leaders”, she stated.
The DG maintained that these centres can increase women’s participation in governance and decision-making, leading to more inclusive and equitable policies; Promote gender equality and challenge harmful gender stereotypes; Enhance the quality of leadership and decision-making, leading to better outcomes for our communities and Drive economic growth and development, as women’s participation in the workforce is essential for a thriving economy.
“The benefits of this resource centre will be far-reaching, impacting not only individual women, but also their families, communities, and the nation as a whole. It will be a beacon of hope and a symbol of our commitment to gender equality and inclusive governance.
“In a few days from now, we will be bringing Commissioners of Women Affairs to further build their capacities and get their buy-in, in this project.
“The saying goes that the harvest is plenty, but the labourers are few. We therefore use this opportunity to call on other Development partners to join us in this project” the DG added.
