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From Idu Jude, Abuja
Gender rights advocates in Nigeria have been urged never to give up and surrender to inequality until women secure their rightful place to make meaningful contributions to Nation-building.
Hon. Sarah Sekoya, Board member of the National Mathematical Centre, Mr. Lawrence Bitrus Garki, Coordinator, FCT City Boy Movement, as well as other women’s rights advocates in Abuja, on Thursday, gave the charge during an official inauguration of Ignite Nigerian Women Movement, with a resolve that women should not rest on their oars despite several denials of their rightful place in the Nigerian polity.
Chief guest of honour at the occasion, Hon. Sarah Sekoya, while delivering a keynote address, admonished that women should look beyond rhetorics and rise to the occasion.
“It is no longer news that women face gender inequality today in Nigeria more especially now that we agitate for special seats at the National Assembly.
“What I’m saying is that women must rise to the occasion and should not feel dejected or inferior. So also we shouldn’t sit on the fence while we believe that a miracle should happen. And another thing is that women should, as a matter of fact mold an opinion while in the inquest. Let them hear our voice for national development and for positivity too. And one more thing is that we should disabuse our minds of the fact that the failure of Nigeria is the failure of one person. No, when people blame the pilot because of a plane crash, it means that the pilot was also the engineer who built the airplane. It shouldn’t be so. For an aeroplane to fly, it takes the technical assessment of many experts before the pilot takes it up to the sky, but in Nigeria, all blame goes to the pilot. So, in a nutshell, for Nigeria to work should be a collective effort of every Nigerian, both men and women. The organization we just inaugurated today should be playing its own role in ensuring the betterment of Nigeria through women empowerment and civic education.”
Speaking earlier, Patron of Ignite Nigerian women Movement, and FCT Coordinator of City Boys Movement, Mr. Laurence Bitrus Garki, while inaugurating the National executives, stated that City Boys Movement, in FCT, is playing its desired role of identifying with similar non-political empowerment groups for targeting national and economic developmental contributions.
He said the Ignite Nigerian Woman movement inauguration underscores the wishes and aspirations of President Tinubu’s administration towards women’s empowerment.
“Yes, we are here to identify with the organization and help in whichever way possible. It is not enough to say that women need their rightful place in Nigeria, but it is pertinent to assert that women should also come out to participate in politics and other civic duties,” he said.
Delivering a welcome address and the association’s mission statement, the national Convener and Director of Ignite Nigeria Women Movement, Simisola God’s Power, remarked that
Ignite Nigeria Women Movement was born from a simple but powerful conviction, with an emphasis that Nigerian women must not only watch the affairs of their communities and the nation from the sidelines.
“We must participate.
We must engage.
We must organise.
We must understand the issues affecting our communities.
“We must encourage other women to participate in the democratic process.
And we must contribute our own quota to building a better Nigeria.
“Women are mothers.
Women are entrepreneurs.
Women are professionals.
Women are community leaders.
Women are organisers.
Women are voters.
Women are influencers within their families and communities.
And when women are organised around constructive civic participation, they can make a meaningful contribution to society.
That is what we in Ignite Nigeria Women Movement represent.
While identifying the day as of great significance, submitted,
“We are not gathered here simply to unveil a name or inaugurate another organisation.
Today, we are igniting a movement.
A movement of Nigerian women who are ready to participate, organise, engage, and contribute meaningfully to the development of our nation.
While disclosing sources of inspiration, informed that she was privileged to serve as the Secretary, State Stakeholder Engagement, City Boy Movement, FCT.
“That responsibility has given me an even deeper understanding of the importance of stakeholder engagement, grassroots relationships, coordination, and inclusive participation.
“It is from that experience and commitment that the vision for Ignite Nigeria Women Movement has also grown.
In view of the above, she stressed that Ignite Nigeria Women Movement is not established to compete with City Boy Movement.
“We are establishing a women-focused allied structure that will work alongside and complement grassroots engagement, particularly among women.
We want to build bridges.
We want to strengthen engagement.
We want to create more opportunities for women to participate.
And we want to work respectfully within the relevant structures.
Where there is a need to engage women
Ignite will be there.
Where there is a need for grassroots outreach
Ignite will be there.
Where women need to be organised for responsible civic participation
Ignite will be there.
Where communities need constructive engagement—
Ignite will answer the call.
Another important purpose of the inauguration is to clearly state the political environment within which it is building the movement.
“Ignite Nigeria Women Movement identifies with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the democratic activities of the All Progressives Congress.
For us, however, support must mean more than words.
“Support must mean work.
It must mean responsible engagement.
It must mean listening to people.
It must mean communicating accurately.
It must mean encouraging peaceful democratic participation.
It must mean taking legitimate policy conversations to our communities.
And it must mean creating space for Nigerian women to participate meaningfully.
“That is where we believe Ignite Nigeria Women Movement has a responsibility.”
