𝐀𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐀𝐢𝐝: Greater Women Inclusion in Leadership Crucial to Nigeria's Development
By Peter Dansu
Women must be given greater opportunities to occupy leadership and decision-making positions if Nigeria is to attain meaningful and sustainable development, ActionAid Nigeria has said.
The organisation made the call during a women's empowerment workshop organised in partnership with Olorunda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and HUFFPED at the Iworo Secretariat in Olorunda LCDA, Badagry.
Speaking at the workshop, ActionAid Nigeria specialist and women's rights advocate, Mrs. Niri Goyit, attributed Nigeria's slow pace of development to the continued exclusion of women from leadership and governance.
Addressing participants from Badagry Local Government, Olorunda LCDA, Badagry West LCDA and Ojo Local Government, Goyit said many of the country's persistent challenges, including insecurity, unemployment, poor infrastructure and economic hardship, could be tackled more effectively through inclusive leadership that gives women equal opportunities to participate.
She stressed that leadership begins at home, extends to communities and organisations, and should ultimately be reflected at the national level.
According to her, women have consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership whenever given the opportunity. She cited the late former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Dora Akunyili, whose reforms transformed the agency, and also praised Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and other accomplished Nigerian women for their outstanding contributions to leadership.
Goyit lamented that decisions affecting women are often made largely by men, describing the situation as both unfair and counterproductive.
She argued that men cannot fully understand or adequately address issues unique to women without their lived experiences, insisting that women deserve equal representation in policymaking and governance.
She urged women to become more actively involved in politics, governance and community leadership by challenging existing barriers and embracing leadership opportunities.
"Women are nation builders and should never be relegated to the background in matters of leadership," she said.
In his welcome address, the workshop facilitator, Mr. Adebowale Keinde, appreciated participants for attending and reaffirmed ActionAid Nigeria's commitment to improving the lives of women, particularly those in rural communities.
The workshop brought together participants from two Local Governments and two Local Council Development Areas. They were drawn from the communities of Pashi, Akoko, Wesere and Aivoji in Badagry West LCDA; Iragbo in Badagry Local Government; Ojogun in Olorunda LCDA; and Taffi and Irewe in Ojo Local Government. Representatives of the chairpersons of the participating councils were also in attendance.
The Deputy Leader of Olorunda LCDA, Hon. Itunuoluwa Ambe Alice, represented the Chairperson of the council, Mrs. Folashade Ajose. Miss Ayo Apede represented the Chairperson of Badagry Local Government, Mrs. Elizabeth Oluwatoyin Hunpe, while the Supervisor for Women Affairs represented the Chairperson of Badagry West LCDA, Mrs. Mariam Ibrahim Kayode.
During an interactive session, Keinde asked the council representatives to outline women-focused programmes implemented by their respective councils and explain how beneficiaries were selected.
Although the representatives highlighted several empowerment initiatives, many participants said they had never benefited from the programmes.
Keinde attributed the gap to poor dissemination of information, particularly in rural communities, and urged the council representatives to convey the concerns to their chairpersons.
He emphasised that women in rural communities should not be denied access to government interventions because of inadequate information, calling for improved communication strategies to ensure wider participation in future programmes.
Also speaking during the session, Hon. Itunuoluwa Ambe Alice commended ActionAid Nigeria, HUFFPED and Olorunda LCDA for organising what she described as a timely and impactful programme.
She said the Chairperson of Olorunda LCDA, Mrs. Folashade Ajose, remains committed to women's empowerment and has implemented several initiatives aimed at improving the welfare and economic well-being of women across the council.
Ambe assured participants that she would brief the chairperson on the outcome of the workshop and expressed confidence that the council would continue to welcome similar initiatives.
She also appealed to ActionAid Nigeria to sustain its partnership with Olorunda LCDA by organising more educational and empowerment programmes to strengthen women's participation in leadership and community development.
To promote sustained women's leadership and participation in decision-making, ActionAid presented a leadership resource toolkit to each participating council through its Department of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. The toolkit is intended to support engagement with the council chairpersons for possible adoption and implementation of strategies that will advance women's inclusion in leadership and governance.
By Peter Dansu
Women must be given greater opportunities to occupy leadership and decision-making positions if Nigeria is to attain meaningful and sustainable development, ActionAid Nigeria has said.
The organisation made the call during a women's empowerment workshop organised in partnership with Olorunda Local Council Development Area (LCDA) and HUFFPED at the Iworo Secretariat in Olorunda LCDA, Badagry.
Speaking at the workshop, ActionAid Nigeria specialist and women's rights advocate, Mrs. Niri Goyit, attributed Nigeria's slow pace of development to the continued exclusion of women from leadership and governance.
Addressing participants from Badagry Local Government, Olorunda LCDA, Badagry West LCDA and Ojo Local Government, Goyit said many of the country's persistent challenges, including insecurity, unemployment, poor infrastructure and economic hardship, could be tackled more effectively through inclusive leadership that gives women equal opportunities to participate.
She stressed that leadership begins at home, extends to communities and organisations, and should ultimately be reflected at the national level.
According to her, women have consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership whenever given the opportunity. She cited the late former Director-General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Dr. Dora Akunyili, whose reforms transformed the agency, and also praised Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and other accomplished Nigerian women for their outstanding contributions to leadership.
Goyit lamented that decisions affecting women are often made largely by men, describing the situation as both unfair and counterproductive.
She argued that men cannot fully understand or adequately address issues unique to women without their lived experiences, insisting that women deserve equal representation in policymaking and governance.
She urged women to become more actively involved in politics, governance and community leadership by challenging existing barriers and embracing leadership opportunities.
"Women are nation builders and should never be relegated to the background in matters of leadership," she said.
In his welcome address, the workshop facilitator, Mr. Adebowale Keinde, appreciated participants for attending and reaffirmed ActionAid Nigeria's commitment to improving the lives of women, particularly those in rural communities.
The workshop brought together participants from two Local Governments and two Local Council Development Areas. They were drawn from the communities of Pashi, Akoko, Wesere and Aivoji in Badagry West LCDA; Iragbo in Badagry Local Government; Ojogun in Olorunda LCDA; and Taffi and Irewe in Ojo Local Government. Representatives of the chairpersons of the participating councils were also in attendance.
The Deputy Leader of Olorunda LCDA, Hon. Itunuoluwa Ambe Alice, represented the Chairperson of the council, Mrs. Folashade Ajose. Miss Ayo Apede represented the Chairperson of Badagry Local Government, Mrs. Elizabeth Oluwatoyin Hunpe, while the Supervisor for Women Affairs represented the Chairperson of Badagry West LCDA, Mrs. Mariam Ibrahim Kayode.
During an interactive session, Keinde asked the council representatives to outline women-focused programmes implemented by their respective councils and explain how beneficiaries were selected.
Although the representatives highlighted several empowerment initiatives, many participants said they had never benefited from the programmes.
Keinde attributed the gap to poor dissemination of information, particularly in rural communities, and urged the council representatives to convey the concerns to their chairpersons.
He emphasised that women in rural communities should not be denied access to government interventions because of inadequate information, calling for improved communication strategies to ensure wider participation in future programmes.
Also speaking during the session, Hon. Itunuoluwa Ambe Alice commended ActionAid Nigeria, HUFFPED and Olorunda LCDA for organising what she described as a timely and impactful programme.
She said the Chairperson of Olorunda LCDA, Mrs. Folashade Ajose, remains committed to women's empowerment and has implemented several initiatives aimed at improving the welfare and economic well-being of women across the council.
Ambe assured participants that she would brief the chairperson on the outcome of the workshop and expressed confidence that the council would continue to welcome similar initiatives.
She also appealed to ActionAid Nigeria to sustain its partnership with Olorunda LCDA by organising more educational and empowerment programmes to strengthen women's participation in leadership and community development.
To promote sustained women's leadership and participation in decision-making, ActionAid presented a leadership resource toolkit to each participating council through its Department of Women Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. The toolkit is intended to support engagement with the council chairpersons for possible adoption and implementation of strategies that will advance women's inclusion in leadership and governance.
