The Need to Give Nigerian Women 35% Affirmative Action

Gone are the days when Nigerian women were confined to the homes, just to attend to domestic chores and bear children. Gone are the days when Nigerian women because of their gentle, subtle, reserved and soft nature were regarded as weaker sex that should be seen and not to be heard, that should be used for any purpose at any point in time by men. A yes member or A second class citizen.

Gone also are the days when women participated in campaign rallies and voters registration exercise only to be schemed out when it was elective or appointment time. Gone also are the time when they were exploited, marginalized and discriminated against in political process.

In today’s society, whether described as weak or subtle, their magical influence like that of Delilah still rules men of influence and affluence. No wonder some men described women as necessary evil. Can men do without women and vice versa? We cannot forget the role played by Queen Amina, Moremi of Ife, Chief Mrs. Olufumilayo Ransom Kuti, Mrs. Janet Mokelu and the rest of other prominent and zealous women leaders, in the emancipation of women.

Today, Nigeria is blessed with dedicated women who have distinguished themselves in their various field of endevour namely Sarah Ajanaku, Professor Dora Akunyili, Sara Jubril, Mrs. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala, Mrs. Oby Ezekwesili, Mrs. Irene Chigbu and the host of others. These women deserve commendation for distinguishing themselves in politics.

How come in a country where women constitute more that 2/3 of the country’s 70% adult non-literate population, they hold less than 5% of the important decision making position? Women have in abundance all it takes to occupy leadership positions and are known to play vital roles as mothers, organizers, stabilizers, social and political activities, yet the society has not give adequate recognition rather they are discriminated against and have become target of violence.

The truth is that very few women are active in the political and professional arena. Men are virtually dominant over women in all areas. As some of Nigerian leaders have failed the people of Nigeria and played politics without principle, if women are in position of authority, many broken hearts will be mended, many mournful souls will be comforted, many depressed minds will find hope and many crying faces will experience joy. In fact, the whole wide world will be a paradise.

The first lady and wife of president, Dame Patience Jonathan said that unless the National Assembly realizes that Nigeria is a signatory to the law on discrimination against women and implement the 35% Affirmative Action, gender inequality would continue to be the order of the day. In a similar occasion, the wife of the former governor of Imo State, Mrs. Chioma Ohakim disclosed that “when Nigerians acknowledge that women have been left behind, Nigerians will accept that it has not been totally of their own making. The reversal of women’s predicament is inevitably the responsibility of every Nigerian woman”.

The challenges confronting women are enormous. Many of the women do not have the type of money the men have for campaigns, posters, handbills, vehicles, radio and television advertisements. They don’t have godfathers. Even those women that have the financial resources still do not have interest because of the violent nature of Nigerian politics. Elections are characterized by assassinations, arson, thuggery, lootings and kidnapping, gossip and pull-down syndrome. Most often, women in politics are regarded as wayward. This is because most of the political meetings are held after midnight. This is a deliberate attempt that deters women but the few that are not deterred and insist on attending often times have to contend with sexual harassment.

Democracy is a game of number and if ideal democratic principles are observed during elections, women will win and occupy more seats given the fact that they constitute greater percentage of the population. Rwanda did it and succeeded today. Women occupy 49% why can’t Nigeria? Greater responsibility of rising to the challenges rest in the women themselves, to enable them rise as united front through advocacy, lobbying to encourage those with the ability to prosper into politics.

The media should ensure effective participation of women in politics by tailoring media programmes towards promoting practices and beliefs that will lead to the inclusion of women in relevant spheres of socio-economic and political development. They should carry out enlightenment and political education on the populace.

Government at all levels should develop and support leadership training programmes for women especially young ones to enable them exercise responsibilities at all levels. Government should design a political framework that will ensure that a certain percentage of positions are reserved for women as it is done in other developed and developing nations of the world.

Women organization should be encouraged and supported. They need to as a matter of urgency, come together and form formidable organization so as to tackle the various forms of discrimination meted against them e.g. widowhood practices, circumcision, early marriage, rape, trafficking and all sorts of humiliation done to women. The Nigerian National Assembly should as a matter of urgency pass the bill for the implementation of the national gender policy on 35% of Affirmative Action and ensure that no form of discrimination should be allowed in a country like Nigeria.

Women cannot remain dormant forever. Now is the time to rise up and shine. The future is very bright, rise and occupy your rightful place in Nigeria’s politics. If you think you can, you can, if you believe a thing is strong enough, it can come to pass in your life.

The challenge to leadership is to be strong but not rude, be kind but not weak, be bold but not bully, be thoughtful but not lazy, be humble but not timid, be proud but not arrogant, have honour but without folly. Finally I conclude with this advice Jim Rohn “to attract attractive people you must be attractive. To attract powerful people, you must be powerful. To attract committed people, you must be committed. Instead of going to work on yourself. If you become, you can attract”.

Article written by Nma Olebara (FCAI) fro Owerri, Imo State Nigeria