By Caleb Ishaya, Abuja
A group of concerned women have expressed displeasure over the all males composition of Governing Board of the North West Development Commission, NWDC, saying what “should have been a historic step towards regional development, instead, feels like a disheartening slap in the face of Northern Women”.
The women in a statement made available to AljazirahNigeria lamented that not a single female name appeared among the nominees forwarded to the Senate for confirmation.
The statement was signed by: Asma’u Joda, Saudatu Mahdi, Maryam Uwais, Aisha Oyebode, Amina Salihu, Mairo Mandara, Qadriyya Ahmed, Fatima Akilu, Rabi Jimeta and Habiba Mohammed.
They added that the development “goes against the grain of the National Gender Policy, the President’s promise of at least 35% affirmative action for women in his appointments and all sense of justice and equity.
Besides, the concerned women are of the view that northern Nigeria has a rich history of formidable female leaders, professionals, and activists who have tirelessly championed socio-economic progress”.
“Their (women) glaring absence from the NWDC Board is profoundly telling and troubling.
The blatant disregard of the female voice also speaks volumes about the mindset of those who are in charge of the nomination process. Indeed, it probably conveys why, in fact, the North West region is lagging furthest behind on so many human capital indices.
“The statistics are alarming, to say the least. The multi-dimensional poverty ratings in those 7 States range from 72% to 90%. Four of those 7 States have more children out of formal school, than in school. The vast majority of those States have less than 20% girl-child literacy rates. Citizens with insufficient food consumption in those States hover between 72% and 80%. What could be more telling?
“The decision to exclude women from pivotal decision-making roles suggests a conviction in high places that the contributions and perspectives of women are inconsequential to solving these pressing problems. This glaring omission is an opportunity lost for all. And the region can only be the worse for it”.
AljazirahNigeria reports that
President Bola Tinubu recently appointed members of the Governing Board of the North West Development Commission.
