Admin I Wednesday, May 24, 2023
IKOYI, Lagos – Nigerian women have been charged not to get intimidated and discouraged but tenaciously participate in political activities and nation-building.
The charge was given by participants at the second Education First Series (EFS) workshop organized by the Women in Nation Building, WINB Africa, held at the Alliance Francaise, Mike Adenuga Centre, Ikoyi, Lagos.
The WINB AFRICA EFS, which was well attended by women from different backgrounds, focused on three different pulse points namely; Financial and Digital Inclusion as Key Drivers for Expanding Female Entrepreneurial Growth and Independence; Engaging Communities, Feminine and Advocacy Groups, Financial and Political Organizations for Feminine Entrepreneurial Success as well as Activism in Feminine Gender Coalitions: The Place of Financial Power and Education.
Speaking on the topic titled ‘Celebrating A Nation Builder’s Legacies’, Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim, Special Adviser to the Executive Governor of Kwara State on Sustainability Development Goals (SDGs) who was the Special Guest of Honour, said active participation of women in politics and governance would help secure visibilities for female politicians and decision-makers as they would not only be able to draw attention to issues affecting them but put in place policies that will favour the women folks.
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She expressed optimism that women’s active engagement in political activities would help them develop and express their opinion in society as well as be able to take part in making decisions that affect their lives.
“Women’s active participation in politics, especially at the local level will promote inclusive representatives of leadership, promote women in leadership and decision-making at all levels,” Dr Ibrahim submitted.
Speaking on the challenges faced by women who are already in politics, Dr Ibrahim encouraged them to always be strong-minded and developed well-formed minds in order to avoid being discouraged due to intimidation by men in society.
“The place of financial power and education cannot be overemphasized. While knowledge is the major ingredient, financial power is the catalyst for women’s development and empowerment, women must constantly seek more knowledge and know whom we are.
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“We must seek the knowledge of self, which is a holistic knowledge by not just pursuing academic and technical knowledge, but we must also seek spiritual and religious knowledge, because as women if we are well-rounded as individuals, we hardly get pushed around. We might get called names in an attempt to break our spirit, because we refuse to be pushovers, this is where a thick skin comes in here handy. Do not allow your spirit to be broken. Go ahead, push on and you would achieve it,” she submitted.
Also speaking, the Chairman and keynote speaker at the event, Barrister Mike Dada, urged women to always encourage one another not to give up regardless of the challenges they face, as he noted that problems are part of everyday life, and individuals only need to fathom out how to confront and defeat them.
Dada, who is also the Managing Director, PRM Africa Marketing and Communications, added that “We can’t talk about nation-building without talking about women. Women are very powerful but many of them don’t realize the power they have; however, we must continue to fight for more spaces and opportunities for women, we must not keep quiet.”
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Speaking earlier, Dr Bukola Bello Jaiyesimi, the founder of African Women in Nation Building, in her welcome address, noted that WINB Africa was founded in 2014 as a pan-African women’s organization with the sole aim of bringing consciousness to women’s role in nation building in Africa.
Dr Jaiyesimi said the WINB Africa was deliberately created by her and four other women from four other African countries as a result of a noticeable gap in nation-building. According to her, “While women are seen as foremost nation builders around the world, surprisingly, many women are being seen taking the back seat in nation building, apparently as a result. I saw the gap and was very determined to bridge the gap.”
She said women are the foremost nation builders in the world as they start from family units with different daily tasks, that position must not be relegated by anyone, community, institution or government.
