Buhari’s wife advocates for more women representation in politics

First Lady Aisha Buhari has called on the women of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to adopt new strategies to ensure greater participation of women in decision-making processes in the country.

Ms. Buhari spoke Monday as she welcomed the Vice President of Liberia, Dr. Jewel Howard-Taylor, who was in Nigeria to participate in the inaugural two-day APC Progressive Women’s National Conference, scheduled for 18 January in Abuja. .

The theme of the Conference is: “One Voice: Women United for Progress”.

She emphasized the need for stakeholders to support the efforts of Nigerian women to realize their demand for greater participation in politics.

“We need to adopt better strategies to maximize our chances of having a reasonable number of elected positions and other opportunities for our women.

“We also need to support each other as women to improve our chances,” she said.

The first lady also expressed her optimism that the upcoming conference will provide a platform where stakeholders will discuss and share ideas to discuss a new direction for greater empowerment and participation of women in ruling party decision-making.

“Women must be encouraged to participate more in politics and the country needs our participation.

“Therefore, it is necessary to find the best way to work together to unite women in the upcoming campaigns before the 2023 elections.

Ms. Buhari, who thanked the visiting Vice President, said the visit would boost the morale of APC women ahead of their conference.

“I am convinced that her record as a former First Lady of Liberia, a professional politician, will certainly add value to the event,” she said.

For her part, Howard-Taylor insisted on the need for women to be in the decision-making bodies of society to promote more allocations of resources for the empowerment of women, maternal and child health.

Howard-Taylor, however, advised Buhari to use her position as Chairperson of the African First Ladies Peace Mission to raise awareness and mobilize women across the region for greater inclusion of women in politics.

Also speaking, Stella Okotete, a member of APC’s Extraordinary Convention Planning Committee (CECPC), said the party had created an academy for progressive young women with the aim of empowering 20 million women across the country.

The Nigerian News Agency reports that the conference, which is scheduled for January 18, will deliberate on various issues, including the inclusion of gender in politics and a greater role for women in government.

The conference is expected to feature more than 1,000 women from all 36 states of the federation and the FCT.

Participants will brainstorm ways to strengthen women’s political rights, address barriers to women’s participation in the political process under democratic systems, and develop strategies to fully engage women.