United Nations Women (UN-Women) on Thursday held a strategic meeting to boost women participation in the forthcoming Local Government and 2027 general elections in Nigeria.
This was disclosed by Mrs Beatrice Eyong, Country Representative of UN-Women in Calabar during an Open Day Meeting of women from the six South -South states in the nation.
Eyong said the aim of the meeting was to create a South-South movement that would step up gender equality and women empowerment especially, starting with the Local Government election.
She said if the women wait for 2027 before they started planning it would be too late, hence, the meeting to increase women representation in decision-making locally before 2027.
“Without gender equity we can never have a sustainable development, so, I call on everyone in the South-South, let us start with supporting and voting for women in the LG polls.
“The test of what we can achieve in 2027 will be a reflection of our achievements in the LG polls.
“We are hoping that in 2027 beginning with the LG polls, we should have at least 35 per cent of women representation as stipulated in the National Gender Policy,” she said.
In a goodwill message by Gov. Bassey Otu of Cross River, he thanked UN- Women, their partners and other women groups for going into difficult terrains in the state to sensitise women.
Represented by Mr Ekpenyong Akiba, his Special Adviser on Special Duties, Otu said a culture that was repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience should be abolished.
According to him the issue of gender equality is not all about the women but a fundamental right that must be treated as such and Cross River will be a role model for the country.
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Similarly, Dr Ini Adiakpan, Dean of Commissioners for Women Affairs noted that, a lot of women were living below poverty lines and that was why they started the Nigeria for Women Project to assist the poorest of the poor women.
Adiakpan who is the Commissioners for Women Affairs in Akwa Ibom, said as a ministry their major objective was to empower the women and ensure their inclusion in governance and politics.
She said many of the women in the rural areas were majorly responsible for agriculture, which formed the needed mechanism to ensure food security in the nation and so, very important for national development.
In his remarks, HRM Ochua Item, Paramount Ruler of Obanliku Local Government Area commended UN-Women for their support in helping them fight and abolish some harmful practices against women in Obanliku communities. (NAN)