50-50 Action Women Groups, an initiative of Women Aid Collective (WACOL) and other stakeholders of gender equality have been tasked on collective actions to ensure better participation of women in governance through appointive and elective positions in Nigeria.
This formed the core of discussions at the national launch of fifty-fifty (50-50) action women advocacy group in Abuja, organised by Women Aid Collective (WACOL) with support from Ford Foundation West Africa.
The 50-50 movement is designed to strengthen women’s capacity and equip them with appropriate knowledge and skills to champion their cause at community and state levels, especially advancing women’s transformational leadership to collectively fight and prevent Violence Against Women and Girls (VAWG), including harmful practices.
The movement also seeks to end discrimination and promote gender equality in all spheres of life.
Speaking during the launch, the Minister of Women Affairs, Dame Pauline Tallen, noted that women have been denied their rights in governance and other leadership positions for too long despite their population and existing laws that promotes their rights.
She then, urged all stakeholders to unite towards the meaningful growth of women in the country.
Tallen stressed the need for women to work together, support and uplift themselves as well as recognise that they have a common goal in building coalitions, fostering solidarity, and creating a movement that cannot be ignored.
She encouraged them not to be deterred no matter the disappoints witnessed, adding that they must continue to speak up, stand together, and fight for what is right in order to build a society where women are free to pursue their dreams, and live without fear.
“So let us all commit to being women-led advocates. Let us use our voices, our talents, and our resources to create a Nigeria society that is more just and equitable for all. And let us never forget that when women come together, there is no limit to what we can achieve.
“The power of women-led advocacy and the vital role it plays in shaping our society cannot be overemphasized. Women have long understood that they must use their voices to effect change, to break down barriers, and to create a world that is more just and equitable for all.
“But, we still have a long way to go. Women still face discrimination and bias in countless areas of their lives, from the workplace to the political arena. And we know that women-led advocacy is the key to changing this,” she said.
The minister while congratulating the advocacy group, noted the enormous task before the beneficiaries to promote the agenda of the group, charging them to be fearless in the face of adversity, speak up when others remain silent, take action, even when it feels impossible, as well as refuse to give up in the fight for justice for any woman irrespective of class, creed or political affiliation.
Member House of Representatives, Princess Miriam Onuoha, on her part, charged women to call on the President-elect Bola Tinubu to redeem his campaign promises of women inclusion.
Onuoha said the Nigerian women do not expect less after casting their votes for the president but to dialogue, devoid of foul language, and engage through the provisions and the ambit of the law.
In her welcome remarks, Founding Director WACOL, Prof. Joy Ngozi Ezeilo, disclosed that the mandate of the fifty-fifty group was to drive the process of catalysing consciousness of stakeholders, advocating for policy, cultural changes and practices against women and girls in the communities, as well as the effective implementation of the state of emergency declared by the Nigerian governor’s forum on VAWG.
Ezeilo said the group since it’s existence has secured the commitments of notable traditional rulers, some of whom have transformed to gender Champions and advocates, become a potent group in their various spheres of influence on issues of violence against women and girls,