First Lady, Remi Tinubu has called on women to learn how to obtain power, saying power is not given freely.
This is even as she noted that President Bola Tinubu’s administration had made significant progress in this regard, but barriers still exist, especially culturally and socially.
She disclosed this when the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association held its Spotlight Initiative on ‘Re-thinking Women’s Proportional Representation in Governance’.
“These barriers include deeply entrenched societal norms, systemic discriminatory practices, structural issues within our political systems, and financial incapability”.
“To achieve this across the board, we must be seen to walk the talk. For instance, our party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has taken significant steps to remove financial barriers by making nomination forms for elective positions free at the grassroots level, ensuring that capable and qualified women can participate in the political process without the burden of prohibitive costs”.
Senator Tinubu, in a statement by her media aide, Busola Kukoyi, commended the House of Representatives for its recent passage of the Bill seeking 74 seats for women in the National Assembly, which aims to encourage more female participation in politics and governance.
“I believe that the leadership in the Senate is gender-friendly. Power is not served ala carte, just as my husband, President Bola Tinubu, said. You have to learn how to obtain power. You need older women to mentor you.
“Education is the cornerstone of empowerment. By improving access to education for girls and women, we can equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to participate effectively in political processes,” she said.
“Additionally, raising awareness about the importance of women’s representation in governance is crucial. Public campaigns, media engagement, and community programmes can help shift societal attitudes and dismantle stereotypes that hinder women’s political participation,” she said.
In her remarks, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt Hon Hadija Memounatou Ibrahimah, who is also the first female to occupy the position, urged the First Lady of Nigeria to champion the cause of better representation for women in governance in the region.
“Your Excellency, you transmit a kind of light that illuminates the leadership of Nigeria. It touches the lives of even the ordinary man. Women account for half of the population of ECOWAS member states. Only 17% are Parliamentarians, and 24% are Ministers in the region. It is high time to reduce the underrepresentation of women in democracy,” she said.
Senate President Godwill Akpabio, represented by Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, stated that the Senate prioritises women’s participation in governance.
The First Lady was a three-term Senator representing Lagos Central Senatorial District till 2023.
