The First Lady of Ekiti State, Erelu Bisi Fayemi has advocated a special political party for women in the country to entrench the culture of democracy.
The wife of the Governor, who made the call at the OSASU SHOW Symposium in Abuja, stressed that such a political party would take care of the interest of women as well as enable them to meet up with their age long yearnings and aspirations.
Speaking further at the symposium with the theme “The 21st Century Woman and Her Role in National Development”, Erelu Fayemi said it was high time that women strived to adequately occupy the percentage slot given to women in government.
Mrs. Fayemi who decried the current percentage of women in elective position at National, State and Local Assemblies in the country was of the opinion that a women political party in the country would fast track meeting the 35% affirmative quota for women in the political space.
She expatiated further that the platform was a prerequisite for achieving political, social, economic and cultural value for women.
The Governor’s Wife explained that Ekiti government had put in place policies and programmes that protect the rights of women which she urged must be replicated in many states of the federation.
She used the forum to also advocate for constitution that would have an affirmative action and quota for women to stipulate their positions, needs and concerns.
“Women should be bold, educated, supportive and add value to themselves in the face of a male dominated society”, she said.
In their separate remarks, the Senate President, Ahmed Lawan, represented by Senator Representing River West, Mrs. Betty Okagua and the former Minister of Sports, Mallam Bolaji Abdulahi noted that a democracy without the full participation of women was a contradiction.
They both decried low representation of women at the National Assembly as against what was witnessed in Uganda, Rwanda, Sudan Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan.
Issues of Education, Business, Employment and STEM as well as Governance, Politics and Advocacy were discussed by various Panelists at the forum.
Among those present at the forum were Bayelsa State Governor, Seriake Dickson, his counterpart from Abia, Okezie Ikpeazu and Edo State Deputy Governor, Phillip Shaibu among others.
The convener of the Symposium, Osasu Igbinedon said various recommendations of speakers would be widely publicized for national development.
High point of the Symposium was the launch of OSASU show Foundation’s 21st Century Women and Girls Project 2020-2030.
Packaged by Emmanuel Adeniran
