KDI Holds Roundtable Dialogue, As Stakeholders Canvas For More Women’s Inclusion In Political Positions

By Rafiu Agboola, Osogbo

Stakeholders in Osun State, on Monday canvased for inclusion of more women into political positions across the country.

At a roundtable discussion on discussion on women’s political participation in the country, organized by a non governmental organization, Kimpact Development Initiative, held in Osogbo, Osun State capital on Monday, participants identified the low number of women in politics and other leadership positions as a major setback to the country’s development.

The participants including members of Civil Societies organisations, Youth organizations, non-profits organisations, religious institutions, politicians among others stated that inadequate number of women in decision-making positions explained the country’s low investment and slow progress in some of the crucial sectors of human development outcomes.

CityMirrorNews reports that between February and March this year, political activities both general and supplementary elections were just concluded in Nigeria. Statistics shows that 2007 was the year that Nigeria had a highest number of women’s who participated in politics. In 2019 general elections, women’s candidacy increased to 12.9% percentage and later reduced drastically to 10.2% percentage in 2023 general elections.

CityMirrorNews reports that at the panel section of the roundtable dialogue, lower percentage of women’s inclusion in political offices generated different divergent opinions by the stakeholders and electoral umpires that focused and proffered solution as well as advocacy that will increase percentage of women in the next 2027 general elections.

Speaking, the convener and Executive Director, Kimpact Development Initiative Bukola Idowu said the roundtable dialogue was organized to discuss on the constraint facing women in the political space as well as the strategies to engage more of them.

Idowu said low women representative could be solved through legislation, adding that women should be allowed to participate in politics beyond using them as political campaign material.

He said, “I think the first way or the first means to come out of this low women representative from the political party angle is through legislation. Now what is the Constitution of most of the political party saying and that is where we should start from.”

The State Residents Electoral Commissioner, Mutiu Agboke who was represented by the Head of Voter Education, Aderemi Adewale hinted that gender equality, lack of funding remains significant challenges facing women to participate in politics.

He maintained that from 1999 till date, 157 women were elected to 469 members of two legislative bodies, 38 senate and 119 house of representatives while in 2023 out of 93 women that contested for senate, 3 were elected, 286 contested for house of representatives and only 15 were elected.

He however charged women to be more active in politics and strive to occupy political positions rather than being used for political entertainers during campaigns.

One of the participants, Mrs Caroline Nihinlola said involvement of women in politics would make the country develop rapidly, saying policy maker should put in place policies that would allow women assume political offices.

She said, “The involvement of women in politics will make Nigeria to develop faster and develop better. A nation cannot fully develop well when 50% of its entire population is sideline.”

She advised women with political ambition not to be afraid but come out strong as they could only get peoples support when they boldly come out and fight for political offices.

Also speaking, Chairman of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Osun State Council, Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu commended the Kimpact Development Initiative for organizing such an epoch-making Programme.

He said the roundtable dialogue had taken stock of how political actors and gatekeepers had fared in rewarding the sacrifices of Nigerian women to further determine how best to support their ambition.

Ajadosu stated that over the years, there had been a sustained poor representation and gender imbalance of women in critical areas, saying that there was need to change the narrative.

The event supported by International Republican Institute (IRI) and Women Democratic Network had some people awarded for their selfless services to the development of society.

Osun NUJ Chairman, Comrade Wasiu Ajadosu