Adodo Osewengie
The wife of the Nigerian President, Aisha Buhari, has called on women around the nation to increase their involvement and participation in politics while calling on relevant political stakeholders to create more room for increased women participation.
Mrs. Buhari made this call when she received the Vice President of Liberia, Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor who is a guest in the maiden edition of the APC National Progressive Women Conference taking place Tuesday, January 18, 2022.
The theme of the conference, “One Voice: Women Uniting for Progress”, organised by the All Progressives Congress (APC) is to brainstorm on salient issues hindering women’s participation in politics and to sensitise them on how they can be decision-making entities in the country polity.
Mrs. Buhari on Monday noted that women needed to restrategise to maximize their chances of occupying vantage positions in the political circle while admonishing them to be supportive of the women’s course.
The statement reads in part: “We need to adopt better strategies to maximise our chances of having a reasonable number of elective positions and other opportunities for our womenfolk.
“We also need to support each other as women to better our chances”, she said.
Furthermore, Buhari’s wife commended the Liberian Vice President, Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor, for coming to the event, acknowledging that her presence in the conference would boost the morale of the women.
She advised that women should be encouraged and supported to increase their participation noting that the conference is a perfect atmosphere for women to share ideas and create the right framework to maximise their participation in politics.
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According to her, the women should think towards uniting themselves ahead of the forthcoming 2023 general elections.
“Women need to be encouraged to participate more in politics and the country needs our participation.
“It is, therefore, necessary to look forward to how best we can work together to unite women in the forthcoming campaigns ahead of 2023 elections.
She added that the pedigree of the Liberian Vice President in politics will of no small measure add flare to the event and dignify it.
“I am convinced, that your record as a former Liberian First Lady, a professional in politics will no doubt add value to the event,’’ Aisha Buhari said.
In her remark, the Liberian Vice President advised Aisha Buhari to use her office as the President of the African First Ladies Peace Mission to carry out a massive sensitisation campaign in Africa to educate the women on getting involved in active politics.
While not limiting themselves to political cheerleaders, she posited that women must continue to advocate for a substantial number of appointments and ensure they build their capacity to become decision-makers to get more resource allocations for maternal, child health, and women empowerment.
Meanwhile, the Women Leader of the APC Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), Stella Okotete revealed that the All Progressives Congress (APC) has set up a women academy with the drive to mentor and empower about 20million young progressive women across the nation.
According to The Trumpet, the conference which will be taking place in Abuja has its participants drawn from the 36 States of the federation.
