Mrs. Joan Aboh Founder/CEO of AMANDAS’S FOUNDATION FOR WOMEN’S EMPOWERMENT discuss with the press on WOMEN’S EQUALITY DAY with the Theme: “Celebrating Women’s Right to Vote”
Mrs. Joan Aboh said, their is an increasing need for development statistics, particularly gender disaggregated statistics, as the country continues to tackle the various social and economic challenges present today.
She pointed out that gender statistics can highlight inequalities and reflect the differences that exist in the lifestyles and livelihood of women and men across Nigeria.
She said, the need to improve the production and use of gender statistics in policy and decision making is backed by the resolutions of the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination against
Women (CEDAW), and the Beijing Platform of Action adopted at the Fourth World Conference on Women in 1995; the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Africa Agenda 2063; as well as national priorities encapsulated in the Economic Recovery and Growth Plan (ERGP).
Ending all forms of discrimination against women and girls is not only a basic human right, it is also a crucial determinant of accelerated sustainable development, and it has been proven that the empowerment of women and girls has a multiplier effect on economic and
inclusive growth in any country.
She said, a report by the Gender Strategy Advancement International, GSAI, has disclosed that women political participation in Nigeria falls below the world and African continental standards and the Beijing Platform for Action identified twelve critical areas of concern in ensuring women empowerment through full participation in economic, social, political decision- making, poverty, education, health, gender-based violence (domestic violence), armed conflict, economic participation, inequality in power and decision making, lack of advancement opportunities, human rights, women and the media, natural resources and the environment, as well as issues around the girl child.
She emphasized on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), lists
52 different gender indicators which aim to measure economic structures, participation in productive activities and access to resources, education, health and related services, public life and decision-making, human rights of women, and the girl child.
According to the report gained from Mrs. Joan Aboh Founder and CEO Amanadas’s Foundation, the national average of women’s political participation in Nigeria remain at 6.7 percent in elective and appointive positions, which it said, is far below the global average of 22.5 per cent, Africa regional average of 23.4 percent and West African Sub Regional Average of 15 percent. This was also a recent report from the National Bureau of Statistics NBS.
It stated: “The country currently, ranks 181 of 193 countries on the Gender Equality Index for reasons such as poor resource allocation in the economic and social sectors, frequent conflicts, forced displacements and inadequate inclusion of women and girls’ perspectives in policy-making decisions.
In Nigeria, women lack effective government action, lower levels of females employment and education, sexiest attitude which sometimes derives from religion or tradition,
Lack of financial resources, Poverty and low education.
Lack access to political training and leadership.
The lack of education is what makes information and knowledge difficult for women to participate in politics. Women lack education that is why the are always difrenchice Education makes woman significant skill necessary to effective participate
Frequent unwillingness to face the social consequence to face the social consequence of pushing for higher salary or promotion, social and business network that engage more financial services into political affairs.
She said another great measure for women is genders household responsibilities which can not be overemphasize.
Mrs. Joan Aboh also use this medium to appreciate the Executive Governor of Kogi State His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello a youthful and women friendly Governor, been the only Governor in the 31 State of the Federation to appoint women as the Local Government Vice Chairman and some women seating on the Local Government Chairman seat and seething the records straight that women can do more and better.
She also urge all the women to come out and vote, to be bold in decision making and pray for a good leadership of the home and the country.