As part of efforts to promote security awareness and encourage active participation of women in politics, the National Orientation Agency has organized a one-day interactive programme titled: “Promoting Security Awareness and Active Women Participation in Politics.”
The event took place in Jere, Kaduna State, with the NOA urging women to make an impact in the coming elections.
Speaking at the event, the Director General of the Agency, Mike Omeri, represented by the Deputy Director of Political and Civic Education, Davidson Aminu, said the essence of the forum was to break voter apathy and empower Nigerian women to participate actively in the democratic process and governance, thereby promoting peace and security awareness.
Omeri acknowledged that over 50 per cent of the electorate at any given election are women, regretting, however, that only few of them occupied top positions in government.
He said this was the main reason majority of the womenfolk have continued to exhibit apathy to our democratic governance.
In Omeri’s words: “The Agency deemed it fit to organize this forum to create awareness for the womenfolk to be actively and positively involved in the political activities in the country.
“If women are empowered, it automatically translates to the empowerment of the nation.”
The NOA boss urged Nigerian women to take a bold step, ride over every obstacle and be determined to be part of the political activities in the country by registering as members of any political party of their choice in order to have legitimacy to participate in party activities and governance.
The Director General noted that women and mothers are expected to be at the forefront of all peace initiatives because anytime there is conflict, women and children suffer the most.
Also speaking, the Emir of Jere, Alhaji Saad Usman, represented by Alhaji Umar Abubarkar, said the forum was timely, especially as the 2015 election draws closer.
He said the sensitisation will help to erase traditional practices that restrict the womenfolk to participate in politics.
The forum had in attendance traditional rulers, ward heads, women organisations, market women, students and Faith Based Organisations.
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