Gender discrimination, anathema to national devt – Expert

By Bashir Mohammed Kano

A renowned political scientist and gender specialist, Dr. Hauwa El-Yakub, has described gender discrimination in governance and politics as an anathema to the quest for national development and progress. Speaking yesterday in Kano at ‘Learning Experience Sharing’ meeting with key female leaders in North-west on Women Participation in Leadership, organised by Disputes Resolution and Development Initiatives, El-Yakub said no development “can ever be achieved with gender discrimination and disparity” , adding that women had formed the largest chunk of the world population.
According to her, in politics and the issue of leadership tussle, women were at an ample liberty to prove their mettle, knowing that their numerical strength was enough to determine the political future of a given nation. She said delving into the business and politics did not imply that women were poised to demean their status as mothers pointing out that there were great women of substance who were seen to maintain their credibility and honour despite their struggle to rub shoulders with men calling the shots on the political lexicon of the nation.

Speaking in the same vein a renowned political activist in Kano, Hajiya Aishatu Maijamaa said he had been inspired to take the gauntlet in seeking political offi ce by the courage and temerity he had enjoyed from her husband adding that once such an inspiration was gotten the sky for women active political participation would be the limit. According to her as a women politician she had never thought of using political offi ce to amass wealth or posses a fl eet of exotic cars as a manifestation of fl amboyance and status realizing the fact that it is not in the character of a women politician to engage in unnecessary ostentation stressing that the main preoccupation of Women was to serve humanity with vigour. On his part, the Executive Director Disputes Resolution and Development Initiatives(DAG) Alhaji Mustapha Muhammad Yahaya said the meeeting was primarily convened to expose Women to the nitty-gritty of learning and experience , sharing most especially now that the quest for Women participation in leadership has become expedient.

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