A gender advocacy group, AJU Morgan Elumelu Foundation, has called on President Bola Tinubu to include more women in his administration.
Executive Director of the foundation, Amb. Aju Elumelu, made this call on Thursday in an open letter to Tinubu and the National Assembly, tagged: “A Clarion Call for Women’s Rights and Empowerment in Nigeria”.
The News Agency of Nigeria ,NAN, reports that the foundation has, for more than 16 years, been dedicated to empowering women and promoting gender equality across Nigeria.
Elumelu called for enactment and enforcement of laws that would eliminate gender-based discrimination and violence, ensuring every woman’s participation in societal activities with confidence.
He also enjoined political parties, CSOs and private entities to prioritise women’s empowerment and create an environment free from harassment, where women could thrive in political and professional activities.
“Through our initiative, ‘Women for 35 per cent: Her Voice, Her Vote’, we aim to advocate for the implementation of the 35 per cent affirmative action, which underscores the critical need for women’s representation.
“Since its inception in 2006, the commitment to gender equality has been recognised, yet we find ourselves entrenched in a reality that demands our immediate attention and action.
“It is disheartening to note that the National Assembly consists of just four women out of 109 senators, amounting to only 3.67% and 13 out of 360 members in the House of Representatives, representing a mere 3.61%, he said.
Elumelu said that these figures were a reflection of minimal representation of women in vital political positions influencing the direction of the society.
Elumelu expressed the regret that in spite of their unwavering support during campaigns, women were always sidelined and deprived of the chance to lead and contribute fully to democratic processes.
“Our nation continues to face systemic barriers that significantly hinder women’s participation in political leadership and decision-making.
“These include: cultural stigmas, limited resources and inadequate protective measures against harassment.
“We must confront these challenges with urgency by advocating for robust legal protections
“We urgently call on the Nigerian government to enact and enforce laws that eliminate gender-based discrimination and violence, ensuring that every woman can participate in the society safely and confidently”, he said.
The executive director further stated that education and community programmes should promote respect and equality, challenging existing cultural norms that marginalised women.
He called on political parties, civil society organisations and private entities to prioritise women’s empowerment as a critical agenda by ensuring that resources were allocated to mentorship programmes.
“We must break the glass ceilings that have long obstructed women’s pathways to leadership, enabling them to contribute significantly to our governance and public life.
“The statistics speak for themselves: Women possess informed, diverse perspectives that drive innovative solutions and foster inclusive development.
“Embracing this change will generate a ripple effect that uplifts communities, supports families and transforms our economy”, he said.