Nigeria’s First Lady, Senator Oluremi Tinubu, has emphasized the crucial role of Nigerian women in seeking power and promoting gender equality in governance. Speaking at the ECOWAS Female Parliamentarians Association’s Spotlight Initiative in Abuja, she highlighted the need for women to actively pursue power, echoing her husband President Bola Tinubu’s words: “Power is not served à la carte, you have to learn how to obtain power.”
“Power is not served à la carte, just as my husband, President Bola Tinubu said. You have to learn how to obtain power. You need older women to mentor you,” she said.
Mrs. Tinubu, describing education as the cornerstone of empowerment, called for improved access to education for girls and women to equip them with the necessary knowledge and skills for effective political participation. She also stressed the importance of raising awareness about women’s representation in governance through public campaigns, media engagement, and community programs to shift societal attitudes and dismantle stereotypes.
She identified several barriers to women’s political participation, including societal norms, discriminatory practices, structural issues, and financial challenges. “Education is the cornerstone of empowerment. By improving access to education for girls and women, we can equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to participate effectively in political processes. Additionally, raising awareness about the importance of women’s representation in governance is crucial. Public campaigns, media engagement, and community programs can help shift societal attitudes and dismantle stereotypes that hinder women’s political participation. These barriers include deeply entrenched societal norms, systemic discriminatory practices, structural issues within our political systems, and financial incapability,” she explained.
Mrs. Tinubu commended the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) for removing financial barriers by providing free nomination forms for elective positions at the grassroots level, enabling capable women to participate without prohibitive costs. “To achieve this across the board, we must be seen to walk the talk. For instance, our party, the APC, has taken significant steps to remove financial barriers by making nomination forms for elective positions free at the grassroots level, ensuring that capable and qualified women can participate in the political process without the burden of prohibitive costs.”
She expressed optimism about the Senate’s gender-friendly leadership, encouraging women to seize opportunities to promote gender equality in governance. “I believe that the leadership in the Senate is gender-friendly,” she stated.
Additionally, the Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament, Rt Hon Hadija Memounatou Ibrahimah, who is also the first female to occupy the position, urged Mrs. Tinubu to champion the cause of better representation for women in governance in the region.
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