A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Oyo state, Prof. Adeolu Akande has called for a review of the nation’s constitution to guarantee involvement of more women in government.
Professor Akande, who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), in a statement issued on the International Women’s Day emphasized that it was high time Nigeria took advantage of the potentials of the female population to enhance quality of governance and fastrack national development.
“The female gender constitutes about 51 percent of the Nigerian population but holds less than 5 percent of executive and legislative offices. The country will do better when it harnesses the great potentials that abound among the Nigerian women folk”
Akande noted that women had risen beyond this limitation to contribute to all sectors of the Nigerian economy which he said is an indication that if they have guaranteed roles in government, women will do more.
“The history of Nigeria is not complete without copious reference to the contributions of women like Mrs Funmilayo Ransome Kuti,Hajia Sawaba Sambo, Mrs Magret Eyo among others. Today, Nigeria parades eminent women playing leading roles in all sectors of national life. If they could attain these heights in spite of structural hurdles on their path, we can only imagine how well they will contribute to national development if guaranteed more roles in government.
“We should work towards having 30 percent of executive and legislative offices guaranteed for women. This will ensure that they bring their compassion and other attributes to bear on governance. We shall all be the better for it”, the statement stressed.
It continued, “Also, I want to use this opportunity to counsel against all forms of oppression against women. We should desist from sexualising and objectifying women. It demoralizes them. We should continue the campaign against female genital mutilation. All forms of harassment against women at the work place should be stopped”.
