The Federation of Muslim Women Association of Nigeria (FOMWAN) on Tuesday in Ilorin mobilize and sensitized women and stakeholders on the 2023 General election.
In her opening address, Hajia Rafiah Sanni, the National Amirah of FOMWAN stated that the subject matter of the programme was to sensitize women and other stakeholders on the coming general elections in Nigeria.
She explained that Kwara is one of the three states earmarked for implementation, adding that FOMWAN in conjunction with United Nations (UN) Women and Canada facilitated the programme.
According to her, the programme is a high level advocacy forum with experts and different stakeholders expected to help foster good governance, gender and human rights in the country.
Speaking on the theme: “Consequences of Gender-Based Violence and the Significance of Electing Credible Leaders”.
Sanni who was represented by Hajia Jemina Ariori, the Kwara Coordinator on the Mobilization and Sensitization of Women for the 2023 General Elections, noted that the overall goals of the project is to contribute to effective rural women’s participation in free, fair and violence free 2023 elections through interfaith actions.
She emphasised on the need to counter gender based violence during all elections come 2023 especially by grassroots women and girls during and after elections.
The FOMWAN president reiterated on the importance of electing credible leaders by participating on the 2023 elections process so as to increase capacity of the community leaders and faith based women on curbing gender based violence.
Speaking also, Hajia Ni’mat Labaika, the Kwara State Amirah of FOMWAN pointed out that the organisation is an umbrella body of all Muslim Women Associations in Nigeria.
She explained that the faith based organisation has secured support from UN Women to implement a project on mobilization, sensitization and countering gender based violence before, during and after 2023 general elections.
“FOMWAN in the past decades has been actively involved in civic education and election observation across all the 36 states of the federation including FCT.
“Our ability to mobilize our members in the rural communities to actively participate in the electioneering process cannot be overemphasized,” she said.
Also speaking, Hajia Bilqees Oladimeji, Deputy President of FOMWAN, Kwara state called for effective advocay identifying stakeholders that are ready to bring about change.
“The rights of women must not be tampered with. Women participation in politics is very fundamental,” she said.
Mrs Oluremi Chiroma, representative of INEC in Kwara, who commended FOMWAN for the programme, added that women voice must be heard and should be allowed active participation in Nigerian politics.
Chiroma submitted that women don’t want to be in competition with their male counterparts but partners in the development of the country.
In his reaction, Oba Abdulrazak Iyiolaseni III, the Olojoku of Ojoku land said women must be empowered to also partake in politics, adding that majority of women are instrument to electing men in power.
He condemn politicians who use youths to cause mayhem by giving them access to drugs and tools of destruction.
The community leader opined that politics is a very simple game and should not be a do or die affair.