Prof. Patricia Lar of the Department of Microbiology, University of Jos, has called for the inclusion of more women in leadership positions in Nigeria.
Lar, a professor of medical microbiology, made the call in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Jos.
“It is unfortunate that in spite of being a signatory to various conventions that advocate for 35 per cent affirmative action, women are still being relegated to the background in terms of leadership.
It is on record that no woman has ever become a president or vice-president in Nigeria.
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The 1995 Beijing women conference ended with a declaration that 35 per cent of leadership positions in countries of the world should be reserved for women.
Lar decried the situation where women were denied space to participate in politics and leadership and lamented that lack of access to resources was a hindrance for women.
She argued that if given the opportunity, women would excel in leadership positions, owning to their transformational capacity and as better managers of resources.
“We have been advocating for the inclusion of more women in politics and governance at all levels. We will not be tired of doing so until we are there.
“The Nigerian woman is still denied space to actively participate in politics and governance. The system is highly dominated by their male counterparts,’’ she lamented.
Lar also called on institutions of higher learning to place capable women in leadership positions to enable them to contribute to the growth and progress of the institutions. (NAN)
