Nigeria: A Political Agenda for Country Women

10 March 2010
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Last week, this column covered the presentations made at the Pre Summit on Participation of Women in Politics organised by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. It ended with the recommendations made in my paper titled Women Participation in Politics: The Challenge of the Ballot Box. There were two sets of recommendations, the short term include measures that have been tried and tested such as mandate protection where by voters are given voter education, they cast their votes, monitor the counting and declaration of results to ensure that results announced reflect their votes. Others are establishment of a fund to support women aspirants, implementation of the Nigeria women's Political Agenda and resuscitation of the 100 Women's Group. This last recommendation involves establishing a network for community mobilisation of women voters which was developed after the 1995 UN Fourth Conference on Women, Beijing Conference. Two of the successful women politicians who are two term legislators, Honourable Saudatu Sani and Binta Garba told participants that the 100 Women Group strategy worked for them. Honourable Saudatu Sani said the Agenda was developed 15 years ago but the issues it sought to address were still important for effective participation of women in politics and public life. She also observed that the Better Life Programme for Rural Women initiated by the Late First Lady, Mrs Maryam Babangida provided economic support and helped to raise awareness among women on their role in their communities.

It is therefore appropriate to share with readers the origin and content of the Agenda and the 100 Women Group mobilisation strategy which were developed through a participatory workshop. In 1995, after the Beijing Conference, a group of activists with support from some development partners established Women in Politics Steering Committee that organised a national political summit at the FESTAC Hotel in Lagos. They planned to bring together100 women representing all the states and various interest groups but over 100 women from all the states of the federation attended the Post Beijing Conference. Presentations were made on the obstacles militating against women's participation in politics. Participants were later divided into groups and the made comprehensive recommendations for effective participation of women in politics and public life. As a member of the Steering Committee for that conference and also a participant, I own the agenda and will readily share it with all. It was produced as a hand book and a guide for action. Out of that post Beijing initiative also emerged an advocacy group known as the 100 Women's Group to promote the Political Agenda and catalyse women for effective political participation. The strategies outlined in the Agenda are as valid today as they were when the document was produced over a decade ago. The Political Agenda for Nigeria Women was designed to fulfil the following objectives:

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