One of the founders of 100 Women Lobby Group in Anambra, and former Minister of Women Affairs, Mrs Josephine Anenih, has tasked women to be active in political affairs of the country.
Anenih said that 100 women lobby group is a Non-Governmental Organisation (NGO), formed with the aim to encourage women’s active participation in political activities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), reporting from Awka, the Anambra capital, on Thursday, said that the group held a strategic meeting and summit for women in political parties.
Anenih said that the place of women in Nigerian politics cannot be under-estimated and advised women to boldly take active part in political activities.
She advised women to offer solid support to women who contest any political position because their support would be a backbone to the contesting women.
She said “Women are good lobbyists, women are very considerate and compassionate, God endowed them with unique capabilities.
“Women always strive to make a difference in anything they are entrusted with and given any form of leadership, such ability would be needed in political arena,” she said.
Anenih called on women in Anambra not to shun politics but called on them to participate fully in the 2023 Election.
She said that women with their numbers will make a difference in ensuring credibility in election and urged them to vote women across board.
Anenih said that the strategic meeting of the 100 Women lobby group, Anambra State, was aimed to encourage Women in political parties to improve their electoral integrity and accountability in Nigeria.
She said that the project was Supported by McArthur Foundation and appealed to women never to take the back seat in the upcoming general elections.
Anenih advocated for women inclusiveness in politics and explained that the organisation is founded to give voice to women.
She called on those at the corridors of power to give more women opportunity to run for different positions, irrespective of party affiliation because women are leaders and influencers.
Anenih harped on the need for Women to support their women folks and said that the political future of the country reasonably rests on the women.
Mrs Ify Unachukwu, the State coordinator of the group, said that the strategic Meetings was geared towards improving Electoral Integrity and credibility as Nigeria goes to the poll to elect their leaders in February 2023.
She encouraged women to come out en masse to vote on that day as their numbers will make great impact to have a transparent election.
Unachukwu also urged women to ensure that their children who are up to 18 years and above come out to vote to elect credible leaders.
The labour party candidate for Federal House of Representative, Prof. Lilian Orogbu, in her address of welcome, stated that women are vehicles for change.
Orogbu said that women have the power to decide who governs them as their votes will count and advised them to pick up their permanent voters cards to enable them to vote.
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She said as a former Head of Department and Dean, Management Sciences at the Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, she credibly manned the affairs of the faculty, saying that political representation is not a hard job to do.
“Faculty of Management sciences is the heart beat of any university, if I can lead in that capacity, I assure you of quality representation.
“Let women support each other to prove that God gave us enough sensibility to man our homes and the society at large,” she said.
The Coordinator, UNP, Bishop Uzoma Ozoemena, in his remarks, said it is part of their mandate to organize Elections and explained that 2023 election is a critical one, as it can make or mar the country’s unity if wrongly managed.
He advocated for peace before and after the election and advised that politicians must educate their followers on the need for a peaceful election.
He hinted that women are critical when it comes to issues of peace, describing women as mobilisers and managers.
He urged them to apply the same grace to political actions.
Ozoemena also called on the Women lobby group to ensure they carry the message of peaceful coexistence to their communities.
Another founder of the group, Mrs Eucheria Aniekwe, said women inclusiveness in politics has brought out many good reports.
Ms Chikodili Nonyelu, another participant, said that women need to be encouraged by their male counterparts.
Mr. Executive Nonso Orakwe, Director, Catch Them Young, supported women inclusiveness in politics, saying they help to bring sanity in election time because they caution their children on election matters.
He urged women not to relent in their effort to get political relevance and advised that women should be aware that voting is not a fight, and guide their husbands and relatives.
He said “Election no be War and their power is PVC.”
Mrs Ugochi Freeman, a resource person, said that women in election matters need to have voting rights to engender good governance which they have answers to.
Freeman said that fear of men in political activities need to be overcome because women have the good number to be bold to contest or support fellow women in elections.
Dr. Lizzy Enukora, a retired Dean, School of Sciences, Nwafor Orizu College of Education, Nsugbe, said that the group has done well to organise the summit.
Enukora said that politics without women is incomplete and encouraged other women to be politically active as it pays to be in power to make a difference in governance. (NAN)
