UN-Women, Canadian government Wednesday partnered Women Collective Aids(WACOL) to improve participation of Nigerian women in politics.
This was as the International organizations through their support to WACOL formed a network for women in 18 political parties in the country.
A Consultant with the Women Collective Aide, Barrister Helen Kalu, disclosed this in a one day strategic engagement with women in politics at New Heaven hotels Abakaliki.
The program was organized by WACOL in partnership with UN Women and supported by the government of Canada.
Kalu said the program was aimed at enhancing women participation in politics both local and National.
She however noted that the program would last for one year.
“Today we are hosting a one day strategic engagement with women in politics in Ebonyi state.
“This particular program will last for one year that is the contract year, it started in May 2024 and will end in May 2025. The program is supported by Canadian Government in partnership with UN women and Women’s Aid Collective.
“The aim of this particular project is to empower women to become more visible and active in politics in Ebonyi state. We are going to be doing a lot of engagement both with stakeholders, the Governor and we will even reach out to the state House of Assembly to ensure that gender and equal opportunity bill is passed on Ebonyi as part of our law
“With what we have done today which is forming a network of women in the politics forum, comprising of 100 female politicians we will go a long way because the network cuts across all the 18 registers political parties in Nigeria.
“We are going are going to go a long way to drive this fought and we are going to make politics in Nigeria in Ebonyi state in particular very visible and women standing at the four front making decisions,policy statements and bringing their own quota to the table for a better and sane society”
One of the resources persons at the program, Dr. Malachi Ochie in a lecture titled increasing women visibility in politics: Ebonyi state local government election in view, said that women can only make a significant change in politics only when they become stakeholders of political party.
He further explained that their not being part in party formation has continued to deny them viable participation in politics.
However,Dr. Ochie said the program would help to create an avenue for discussion on the adoption of affirmative action policies and legislation.