By Edel-QuinnAgbaegbu
The recent
development in the polity regarding the controversy on the role of Nigerian
women in leadership has generated various interests and thoughts to explore
measures towards women emancipation. These concerns are borne out of necessity
to facilitate an environment to breed transformational generation of women for
a better Nigeria. The rationale behind the incorporation of women into the
system is due to the fact that women constitute about 54% of the population of
about 188,375,518 million people of Nigeria and their under utilization
represents a functional challenge in modern leadership.
It is appalling
that despite the immense contribution of the few privileged Nigerian women in
economic growth and sustainable development, there still exist major
prohibiting pressures limiting positive actions and total commitment from the
women folk. Factors such as gender disparities, discrimination against women
and girls, gender based violence and stereotypes in education and career are
fundamental challenges militating against the course of women
development. Elimination of some of these pervasive barriers is vital to
enable women and girls realize their full potentials to actively engage in
leadership.
Although
government has instituted some ministries and agencies to address these
constraints and many more, the predominant dysfunctional system suppresses
effective management of the nation to accomplish this task.
Powerful change therefore is required through a powerful movement. No
wonder, women are more committed now to taking concrete actions both nationally
and internationally as appropriate to eliminate every discrimination against
them and accord a proper space to themselves in the society.
There are various
relevant concepts aimed at offering constructive strategies towards unlocking
the potentials of Nigeria women for proper integration into the process of
national building. Training is an essential component in this regard for a
quantum leap to enhance women capabilities to actively engage in the society
and take control of their destiny.
Capacity building
for women and girls through training and non-formal education is advocated to
improve their opportunities to benefit from inclusive, sustainable and
equitable economic growth and quality of life at home and in all spheres of the
society. It is an applicable concept that has been considered to deliver a
frame work to equip women with transformational competence including knowledge,
skills, expertise and personality values. It is a critical component for
women's commitment and essentially advances and strengthens women reputation.
Women capacity development enables full and effective participation in all
aspects of peace building continuum from conflict prevention to resolution and
ultimately reconciliation with a view to contributing to the implementation of
Agenda 2030 and all its Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Exploring the
potentials and the role of women in today's socio-political context and their
vulnerability to dangers is a recurring phenomenon. It is significant to note
that women are among the worst hit by conflicts. About 80%of the civilian
casualties, refugees and internally displaced persons globally are women and
children. It is therefore empirical to incorporate women as mediators in
conflict management to introduce alternative perspective to conflict
prevention. It also reinforces their positive contribution in post conflict
reconstruction and peace consolidation as women are natural peace makers and
more pacific than men.
It is time to
confront this endemic trait of marginalization of women in Nigeria which is
perpetuating poverty and preventing the fulfilment of Africa's potential as a
whole. Supportive initiatives should be encouraged to boost campaigns for
social, economical and political rights. Efforts should be made towards
promoting public services that respond to women's need, ensure women's access
to economic opportunities and build women's engagement in decision-making
process. These are essentials if we are determined to achieve global economic
growth and sustainable development most especially in Nigeria.
(Agbaegbu is
the Executive Director, Every Woman Hope Centre,Abuja,Nigeria based NGO and Publishers of LifeCare Journal.)
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