The southern and eastern regions of Nigeria gained their voting rights in 1954. Women in the northern region of Nigeria earned their right to vote in 1979. Nigerian women have been active politically since then.
However, Nigerian women remain marginalized in political party leadership and appointive positions at all levels of governance. Women in Nigeria make up approximately 50% of the population.
Giving the welcome address, Adebukola Oso the founder and CEO of AfriWomen NGO explained that the specific objective of the networking brunch was to build the AfriWomen’s members, beneficiaries, friends, and family’s grassroots capacity to participate in leadership choice-making. In addition, it also gives an overview of AfriWomen’s achievements and challenges.
Oso explained that one of AfriWomen’s pillars is building and strengthening the networking community for women. A forum which gives women the chance to express their aspirations, and connect with other people, particularly women whom they can learn from and be positively inspired by.
Adebukola Oso also pointed out that as the 2023 election draws near, the AfriWomen is tasked to ensure that women understand the power of their PVC, the significance of not just owning a PVC but also using it to choose leadership. That the ownership of their PVC also put power in their hands to ask politicians seeking elective offices what they have in stock for women’s empowerment and for the women to also express their requests for better social and economic development for women.
Adebukola Oso lamented that since the AfriWomen started in 2020, the NGO has been self-funded by herself. Despite having 9 adult literacy and skills acquisition centres across 7 local government areas of Ibadan, a vibrant cooperative, providing vocational skills training for 100s of women and girls, and impacting the lives of over 3000 women and girls in various other ways, the NGO is yet to receive any support from the government.
The AfriWomen members and beneficiaries were ecstatic about the occasion and the opportunity to meet some grassroot politicians and officials of the current Oyo state administration.
An alumnus of the AfriWomen adult literacy programme, Mrs Balkis Ibraheem in her testimony stated that “I am grateful for the presence of AfriWomen in my life and the lives of my twins. Every time I need assistance, AfriWomen is there to support my social and economic development. I belong to a cooperative society, which has increased my access to money”.
Other women spoke about improvements in their personal economic and social growth since enrolling in the adult literacy programme. All the women present agreed that they have better esteem, and are more assertive and confident for example in their parenting skills.
Yet, other women pointed out that being able to converse and write in English helps their commercial activities, for example, they can engage diverse customers which improves their income take. Still, others talked about the difficulties they have juggling work and education and the need for capital to support their micro-enterprises.
In his response address and speaking on behalf of other representatives, Mr Adeyinka Adeniyi the Special Adviser to the governor on chieftaincy Affairs thanked Afriwomen for all their achievements. They marvelled at the extent of the AfriWomen’s achievement.
Speaking further, Adeniyi discussed the importance of women’s participation in governance particularly as leaders. He said “Women are intelligent and incredibly smart, aiming for a leadership position either in politics or your place of work should be your utmost priority.
Furthermore, Adeniyi noted that women in active leadership positions have a knock-on effect on the girl child. Women in leadership positions should serve as an opportunity to inspire and mentor youths, particularly girls to lead and serve in the public and private sectors confidently.
Adeniyi also noted that women are not interested in politics. Often they leave the responsibility to men and they go on with the saying “it is a man’s thing to do”. He encouraged women to play a both supportive and increasingly active role in leadership positions. Adeniyi also promised that the government will support women more in all the challenges highlighted by the AfriWomen Grassroot networking community.
Oso ended the event with a word of encouragement for the women to reflect more on the AfriWomen slogan, Be Bold! Be More!! According to Oso, if women want to truly embrace and practice the AfriWomen slogan they must indicate it in their daily practices and all spheres of their lives- religious, work or business and family life.
Adebukola Oso noted that presently in the current Oyo state house of assembly, there is only one female member. Our members now should aspire to participate in politics from the ward level to the top. We already have a networking community to facilitate this aspiration.