Grace Nwafor
The Executive Director of The New Generation Girls and Women Development Initiative, NIGAWD, Mrs. Abimbola Aladejare-Salako has reinstated the organization’s commitment towards advancing women’s political participation in Ekiti State.
Mrs. Aladejare-Salako made this known during a seminar tagged ‘Movement Building for Collaborative Advocacy on the Maputo Protocol in Nigeria’ organized by the group on Friday in Ado-Ekiti.
Speaking in an interview with newsmen, Mrs. Aladejare-Salako stated that the program is focused on co-creating with women in politics on implementation of The Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa, also known as the Maputo Protocol
According to her, Nigeria is a signatory to Maputo protocol since 2004
Mrs. Aladejare-Salako pointed out that this motion became crucial upon the realization that the implementation of Maputo Protocol at the local level is very low and as such, in partnership with network of organizations including; Solidarity for African Women’s Right (SWOAR), Equality Now and BAOBAB aims to achieve that course.
“We are working together to ensure that the Maputo Protocol is implemented at our local communities especially at the State House of Assemblies. We are working majorly on Article 9 and 10 of Maputo Protocol which talks about women political participation
She urged women in Ekiti to be open minded, embrace and support women who are in politics.
Similarly, a Lawyer and Executive Director, Gender Relevance Initiative Promotion, GRIP, Rita Ilevbare Esq. called on women to synergize and focus on the things that bind them together.
She urged women in the State to put themselves forward at the discussion table while expressing optimism that the goal will be achieved in due time.
Speaking, NIGAWD M&E Manager, Dr. Gbenga Adesunloro while delivering a lecture on the topic, ‘Women Political Participation in Nigeria: Barriers and Way Forward’ emphasized the need to tackle the barriers hindering women in order to increase their participation in politics.
He further called on the public to always celebrate success stories of women in politics saying that it will help to motivate other women’s participation.
The forum also condemned the move by the National Assembly to repel the VAPP Law 2015 and blamed it on low representation of women among the legislators, she also said it is becoming a negative trend in Africa and urged African leaders to be progressive
