The First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu, has emphasized the importance of inclusive political participation, calling for increased women’s representation in nation-building efforts.
Sen. Tinubu made the call during the 774 Explode Programme; an empowerment initiative organized by the Office of the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Women Leader, themed, “Enhancing Gender Space in Politics”, which took place at the Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub in Benin City.
Represented by the Minister of Women Affairs, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim, Sen. Tinubu celebrated women’s invaluable contributions in nation building and growth. She noted Nigeria’s low representation of women in elected positions and called for change. She further emphasized women’s success in various sectors and advocated for economic empowerment, political participation and reserved seats for women with the goal of creating more opportunities for them to address social challenges and build a stronger society.
The APC National Women Leader, Dr. Mary Alile highlighted the stigma and cultural barriers that have discouraged women from participating in politics in Nigeria to include the notion that politics is a “Dirty game” and that women should focus on domestic roles. She noted that the current generation of women is more determined and educated, and deserves a chance to contribute to decision-making.
”Today’s programme is called 774 Explode. This project is a nationwide project, which has been done in states like Benue and Sokoto. Today, we are doing it in Edo. In this project, our goal is to enhance the participation of women in politics. This type of programme is what we are putting in place to ensure that once we get the reserved seats, we will have a pool of women whom we can support to succeed. The message is, ‘Give a woman a chance’. She added.
Earlier, the Coordinator, Office of the Edo State First Lady, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani, while welcoming dignitaries and guests, described the State as a land of beauty, rich culture and heritage. She added that the State’s red soil symbolizes love, passion, dedication and the people’s resolve to defend their land. She stressed the importance of women’s participation in politics to promote equality, justice, and development, calling for the dismantling of barriers like cultural norms and discriminatory laws to ensure women’s inclusion in decision-making.
According to her, “I deeply recognize the importance of fostering an inclusive political environment where women can participate fully and contribute meaningfully to our government. Women’s participation in politics is not just desirable, it is essential. It strengthens gender equity, equality, advances social justice, and promotes sustainable development.
“There are actually systematic barriers that I know that we can conquer as women. These barriers persist, which are culture, societal norms, limited access to education and resources, and discriminatory laws and practices that I also think that we must try as much as possible to abolish. These are hurdles that we must collectively dismantle. Political participation is a fundamental prerequisite for gender equality and inclusion in a genuine democracy. It enables women’s direct access and engagement in decision making”.
Mrs. Anani emphasized that women’s participation in politics is not a competition but an inclusion that leads to more accountable governance and better decision-making. She noted that women are underrepresented, despite making up a significant portion of the population. She called for support for women in politics, urging them to support one another, as well as policies that promote women’s empowerment and leadership development.
The programme featured a keynote address on “Enhancing Gender Space in Politics and Inclusive Politics,” accompanied by a cultural display. The highlight of the event was the empowerment of women, which included presentation of cash grants of ₦200,000 each and certificates to participants of the previously held workshop, and the distribution of empowerment grants of ₦50,000 each, including business equipment such as sewing and grinding machines, provision of food items, including rice, pasta, macaroni, amongst others.
Gloria Osemudiamhen
Public Relations Officer
Office of the First Lady
Edo State
PHOTO CAPTION
L-R: 4th Left, the Coordinator, Office of the First Lady, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo Anani; Hon. Minister of Women Affairs, Hon. Imaan Sulaiman Ibrahim; and other dignitaries and a beneficiary during the 774 Explode Programme, held at Sir Victor Uwaifo Creative Hub, Benin City.
