Nigeria

The UK Deputy High Commissioner to Nigeria Laure Beaufils, facilitated a brainstorming conversation with a diverse array of Nigeria stakeholders on barriers to women’s participation in politics.

The Society for Empowerment and Self Reliance (SESER), advocated structural changes in the political framework to increase women’s participation to foster economic growth and development.The National Coordinator, Mrs Rose Effiong said this in a media briefing in Abuja in preparation towards the All African Women Summit (AAFWOS).

As the 2019 election is approaching, more women are beginning to express interest in contesting the presidential election on different political platforms.

One of such women, Princess Oyenike Oyedele Roberts, who recently expressed willingness to run for the apex political post in the country on the platform of the major opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), said Nigeria would do better under the leadership of a female president.

The Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC has decried low participation of women in political processes.

The Commission said despite the fact that women constitute 48 percent of the population, only 5.8 percent  of them hold political offices.

The Commission also revealed that since the commencement of CVR in 2017, only 1,362,293 women have registered compared to men who have 1,560,823 registration.

National Electoral Commission, INEC, has bemoaned the inadequate representation of women in political offices, pointing out that in spite of the numerical strength of women, they are not adequately represented.

Hajia Maryam Bagel, a member representing Dass constituency, Bauchi state Assembly has lament the non-participation of Northern women in active politics.

She made the observation while briefing newsmen Friday in Bauchi, saying it’s time women take active part in politics and begin to compete against the men.

The European Union (EU) is worried that since its huge investment in Nigerian politics, there had been no improvement in women participation.

The EU expressed worries over the low level of Nigerian women participation in politics in spite of several efforts to encourage them since 1999.

President of the Senate, Bukola Saraki has pledged to work with relevant political stakeholders to ensure that a greater number of women are given the opportunity to vie and occupy elective offices during the 2019 general elections.

Saraki gave the pledge on Wednesday, April 11, 2018, when the Conference of Nigeria Female Parliamentarians paid him a courtesy visit at the National Assembly.