Women Seek Sustainable Representation in Nigeria’s Leadership Space

Women have reiterated the commitment to mobilise support for increased and sustainable participation in Nigeria’s political space especially as the 2023 elections draw near.

The decision was reached at a one-day town hall with community stakeholders to encourage increased women’s political participation and representation as well as garner support for female contestants and women voters turnout in Cross River State, south-south Nigeria.

The participants at the town hall meeting, which was organised by the Gender and Development Action Center for Training and Development Activities (GADA CETDA), with the support of ActionAid Nigeria (AAN) and funding from Global Affairs Canada (GAC) agreed to embark on intensive deliberation at the meeting held in Calabar.

The project coordinator of the Women’s Voice and Leadership Nigeria Project, Mrs Francisca Effiom remarked that the town hall meeting was aimed at addressing the low participation of women in decision-making. Effiom noted that the inadequate number of women in decision-making positions has affected the country’s investment resulting in slow progress in crucial development sectors. she explained that the project implemented by GADA would not relent in creating awareness and sensitising women as well as other stakeholders to work assiduously in ensuring women are mobilised to go out and vote an be voted for so that their voice may be heard.

The meeting featured goodwill messages from the Ministry of Women Affairs, Independent National Electoral Commission INEC, Center for Gender Development at the University of Calabar, etc.