INEC Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC), in Kwara, Malam Garba Attahiru-Madami has made a call for compulsory education for girl-child in the country for the development of women.
Attahiru-Madami made the call on Tuesday in Ilorin in an address delivered at a one-day stakeholders’ meeting ‘on effect of COVID-19 on participation in politics and good governance.’
The meeting was sponsored by League of Women Voters of Nigeria, Kwara chapter with support from Actionaid.
The REC described the girl-child education as a vital tool for empowering women and for development.
“Education is the bedrock of development and the only legacy we can bequeath our children, especially the girl-child.
“We must empower women with education, because when you educate a woman, you educate a nation or society,
“We must break religious, cultural and social challenges/barriers hindering the girl-child education.
“Education for the girl-child must be made compulsory while parents that fail or refuse to send their girl-child to school should be sanctioned,” the REC added.
He said that political parties in Nigeria must provide platform for participation of women by changing their constitution that would provide 35 percent of elected position for women.
“Furthermore, every strata of government, local, state and federal must appoint at least 35 percent of women in their cabinet.
“For example, Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has appointed nine women out of the 16 Commissioners.
“Also, Governor El-Rufai of Kaduna has appointed 30 percent women in his cabinet,” Attahiru-Madami said.
He added that women should lobby the Senate and House of Representatives to amend the constitution to allow at least 35 percent elective positions for women.
“We all know that women are house makers, they are our wives, sisters, girlfriends, aunties and mothers and play a significant role in changing the society in which we live.
“If countries like Rwanda, Kenya and Finland can do it, so Nigerian women can do it.
“Women must unite and come together in order to effect the change in the constitution,” he said.
He also called for the sensitisation of young girls from secondary school and tertiary institution on the need for women participation in politics and good governance.
“Old and seasoned female politicians need to mentor the young ones of the intricacies of being a politician and what need to be done to be elected,” the REC said.
Attahiru-Madami identified fund as the major challenge facing female politicians in the country.
He said women must be willing to persuade men to key into their vision and goals.
“Most men are chauvinist and they need to be persuaded, convince on the need for women to be given opportunity of leadership and governance.
“I suggest women group and organisation should visit Rwanda to share experiences, ideas on how they were able to achieve over 60 percent elected women in their national assembly.
“If Nigeria is to develop, we must give opportunity to our women to participate in politics.
“It is a statement of fact that women are less corrupt than men, even those that are corrupt are led by men to be corrupt”.
