A call has gone to policy makers and gate keepers to be proactive towards ensuring women participation and involvement in local governance in Anambra State.
The Executive Director, Women Action Committee, formerly Women Foundation for Improved Living Standard (WOFILS), Prof Mercy Anagbogu made the call during an advocacy visit to the Traditional Ruler of Nawgu, Igwe George Okaa-Onwuogu at his palace.
She expressed happiness that no fewer than 20 women drawn across four Local Government Areas in Anambra State have so far indicated interest to contest various elective positions in the 2021 and 2023 elections.
She however noted that a 2020 research conducted by WAC, shows that the 2019 general election was replete with extreme electoral violence, which could prevent more women from aspiring to political positions in 2023 but said that through the efforts of the group, more women are beginning to show interest in politics.
While commending the group for their selfless efforts towards the upliftment of women in the state, the Traditional Ruler of Nawgwu, Igwe George Okaa-Onwuogu, revealed that he was the first monarch to appoint a woman as a palace secretary, promising to ensure the realization of their objectives through effective and efficient collaboration with all the groups within the communities.
Earlier, the Chairman Etiti village, Ukwulu, in Dunukofia Local Government Area, Mr. Fidelis Makachi, reiterated the need for men to support women in decision making, pledging to use his good offices to inspire people in his community to support women in election.
In their separate remarks, the State Coordinator, Society for Sustainable Development, Engr. Anthony Aniebue, and Dr Dennis Ekemezie, a Social Activist, noted the importance of discouraging all forms of “Stomach Infrastructure” and vote buying in order to encourage more women with passion for developmental projects to contest, urging women not to play the second fiddle.
The advocacy visit which was a follow-up to an earlier awareness campaign for increased women political participation and involvement in local governance was organised by WOFILS supported by ACTIONAID Nigeria and funded by Global Affairs, Canada, through the Women’s Voice and Leadership Nigeria Project.
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