The Aju Morgan Elumelu Foundation, a gender defense group, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to include more women in his government, particularly in elective and designated positions.
The Foundation, an organization dedicated to empowering women and promoting gender equality in Nigeria for more than 16 years, also asked the Government to promulgate and apply laws that eliminate discrimination and gender -based violence, ensuring that each woman can perform active roles in society in a safe and confidence.
The founder and executive director of the Foundation, Ambassador Aju Elumelu, in an open letter to President Tinubu and the National Assembly, with the title, “a call for clarification for the rights and empowerment of women in Nigeria”, also becomes political parties, civil society and private entities to prioritize the empower prioritize women's empowerment.
The letter read in parts; “Through out initiative,” Women for 35%: her voice, her vote, “We aim to advocate for the implementation of the 35% affirmative action, whoich underscores The Critical Need for Women's Representation in Both Political and Leadership Positions Across All Sectors of Government. In 2006 on april Court Day, The Commitment to Gender Equality Has Been Collection, Yet We find ourselves entertaining in a reality that demands ur immediate attention and action.
“It is discouraging to observe that, as it is, the National Assembly Nigeria consists of only 4 women of 109 senators, who amount to only 3.67%, and 13 women of 360 members in the House of Representatives, who represent a mere 3.61% of our legislative body. These figures reflect a minimum representation of women in vital political positions that influence the direction of our society. Contribute completely to our democratic processes.
“Our nation continues to face systemic barriers that significantly hinder the participation of women in political leadership and decision -making. These include cultural stigmas, limited resources and inadequate protection measures against harassment. We must face these challenges urgently, advocate for:
“Solid legal protections: we urgently ask the Nigerian government to promulgate and enforce the laws that eliminate discrimination and gender -based violence, ensuring that each woman can participate in society safely and confidently.
“Implementation of the affirmative action: we implore that its estimated offices demonstrate an unwavering commitment to the update of the 35%affirmative action policy, advocating the representation of women in the chosen and designated offices.
“Creation of safe spaces for women: initiatives must be introduced to micro and macro levels to promote an environment -free environment, where women can prosper in political and professional environments. Education and community programs should promote respect and equality, challenging existing cultural norms that marginalize women.
“Commitment and empowerment: political parties, civil society and private entities must prioritize the empowerment of women as a critical agenda, ensuring that resources are assigned to tutoring programs, training workshops and awareness campaigns that encourage women to follow and ensure leadership opportunities.
“As leaders and fellow citizens, we must raise together to change our national narrative. We must break the glass roofs that have long obstructed the paths of women towards leadership, which allows them to contribute significantly to our governance and public life.
“Statistics speak for themselves: women have informed and diverse perspectives that promote innovative solutions and encourage inclusive development. Adopting this change will generate a domino effect that elevates communities, supports families and transforms our economy.”