Comfort Lamptey, the United Nations, UN, Women’s Representatives to Nigeria and Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS, has described the 4 per cent of women representation in Nigeria’s National Assembly as a crisis.
She said that such low participation of women in governance should be a concern to every Nigerian.
Lamptey harped on the need to get more women into elective positions and in governance, adding that such involvement can only enrich the governments of the country where more women are involved leadership.
She disclosed this Saturday when she featured as a guest on Channels Television breakfast show, Sunrise.
She said, “I see it as a crisis because in the continent, Nigeria and other comity of nations are committed to promoting the advancement of women as the critical part of ensuring the development of the countries and advancing the participation of women and investing in their participation in economic life as well as harnessing their capacities to contribute to decision making.
“So in all areas, it is important to ensure that the potential of the women is harnessed. I don’t believe that we can achieve sustainable development in any of our countries in Africa if we continue to leave half of other human capital behind and so it is a necessity to bring women into the public space to be able to promote issues and priorities that not only concern women but the whole community in education and health.”
READ ALSO: Police Vow To Apprehend Killers Of Delta Contractor
The Envoy gave kudos to some nations in the continent that currently have significant representation of women in parliaments, noting that it requires the political will on the part of the leaderships to encourage more women participation in the governance of their respective countries.
She said, “Globally, we have seen in some countries where you have significant representation of women in parliaments, you see that some of the issues that come up and form the policy agenda are more likely to highlight the issues of investment in infrastructure in addressing violence against women in education and health as much as in addressing the issues of security.
“The issue of promoting women’s role in leadership is a work in progressive everywhere in the world, several countries are making progress but it is about political will, and the desire to live by example, leaders can decide to make sure that their cabinets reflect 50 per cent of women.
“It is just Rwanda that is leading the way for the whole word because Rwanda has over 60 per cent representation; it has over 60 per cent women in the political space. And again, it is a question of political will. Close to Rwanda is Senegal, a Muslim country that has about 50 per cent representation of women in their parliament as well as in local level.
“There are many other countries that have many women representation in politics and decision making; such as South Africa, Uganda, Botswana and Tanzania, “she said.
