By Enyeribe Ejiogu
With barely six years left to achieve the 17 thematic targets of the Sustainable Development Goals, SDGs, by 2030, the race to the finishing line has become more energised, and the momentum continues to build up in different settings across the world.
The experience is no less so in Nigeria, where the lawmaker and member representing Amuwo Odofin 1 in the Lagos State House of Assembly (LSHA), Honourable Stella Foluke Osafile, is moving with sure-footed steps and full focus on achieving the SDGs in her constituency. It is notable that she is the Chair of the LSHA Wealth Creation and Employment Committee and initiator of the SFO (Stella Foluke Osafile) Empowerment Foundation, which actively collaborates with other organisations towards actualisation of the foundation’s goals.
In support of efforts to achieve SGD5 (which is focused on gender equality), the SFO Foundation collaborated with the UN Women Team in Nigeria, led by its Country Representative, Ms Beatrice Eyong, Canada and the National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (a specialised agency of the National Assembly, established by a Act of Parliament) to sponsor a training session organised by Women Active in Politics, a special advocacy initiative of the Warien Rose Foundation, held at the iconic and historic Festival Hotel and Conference Centre, in FESTAC Town, Lagos.
The event, with the theme “Enhancing Women Political Representation: Female Legislators Constituency Outreach” was well attended by female professionals from different walks of life, at the grassroots level and who are all united in the quest for greater female involvement in the political process of the country, to ensure more meaningful, effective and socio-economically responsive governance.
Honourable Osafile put this fact, front and centre, in her address, telling the assemblage of women to “participate effectively and make meaningful contributions, to forge a path towards equal representation and opportunities for women in politics.”
While expressing joy over the thoughtful topic and focus of the outreach, she commended the joint sponsors for their “consistent efforts towards ensuring more women representation in public offices and affairs,” adding: “Today, under your auspices, we are gathered to address the pressing issue of women under-representation in politics and to strategize on ways to enhance women’s political engagement, to promote gender-sensitive policies, and to ultimately empower women to take up leadership roles.
“This gathering is a statement to our collective resolve to tackle the monster of gender barriers and foster inclusive governance. This conference is also a veritable opportunity to celebrate women’s achievements in the political space. I have no doubts in my mind that at the end of this one-day conference, our objective will have been greatly achieved.”
Convener of Women Active in Politics, Dr Efe Anaughe, in a somewhat hilarious and lighted manner urged women not to play politics like the men:
“We need to embrace our uniqueness and recognise that we are not men. We love our makeup, red lipstick, high heels, long nails and hair attachments. We are intelligent and focused, and know what we want.”
Listening to her, it was easy to understand why the keynote speaker, Dr Lemmy Omololu Omoyinmi, director of EMPRETEC UNCTAD (Nigeria), a flagship capacity-building programme of UNCTAD for the promotion of entrepreneurship and micro, small and medium sized enterprises (MSMEs) to facilitate sustainable development and inclusive growth, who described Anaughe as “a woman with contagious energy.” He regaled the audience with the story of how Anaughe pushed until he agreed to adjust his busy schedule, to address the gathering.
So, when she put the icing on the cake of her remarks firing up the women, they yelled back with interjections of ‘yes’ in support: “You are change-makers and leaders that the world wants to hear. Your voices are crucial and central to the goal of enhancing women’s participation in governance. Our voice is powerful. As women we must break barriers and challenge the norms and push back boundaries.
“We are capable, strong and resilient. That is why we must strive to support each other in the march to achieve more inclusivity in the political space and governance. In this regard, we must give kudos to Honourable Stella Foluke Osafile for her indefatigable efforts to lift up more women and give ardent support to the quest to secure a bigger place for women in the political space. Her strident effort in this regard is highly commendable. She is not just representing herself, rather she is representing generations of women and paving a way for the next generation of capable females to get into the political and governance process. That is why we need to stay informed, engaged, and committed to the cause, to create a world where gender equality becomes a reality.”
She acknowledged the “HeForShe” men, who support women, stressing that their encouragement is contributing to creating a more equitable society.
“Standing alongside women is solidarity and empowerment. We salute our men who support women and urge them to join us in challenging patriarchal norms that hinder and keep women down. By doing so, you will be building a better future for all, attain gender equality and empower women’s leadership in the political governance space. Let us unite to foster inclusive politics. Together we can break the iron ceiling, because it is no longer a glass ceiling – which has already been broken.”
Director-General, National Institute for Legislative and Democratic Studies (National Assembly, Abuja), Prof. Abubakar O. Sulaiman, in a goodwill message delivered by Dr Leo Igbanoi, who represented him, took pains to decry the “deeply-entrenched personal and collective attitudes that result in the deliberate and sometimes unconscious exclusion of women and girls, visible in both domestic spaces and public institutions.”
He said further: “Our women and girls face diverse forms of the violence of exclusion in Nigeria’s political, economic, and social spaces. This is most manifested in women’s gross under-representation at the highest levels of political life and other decision-making bodies, particularly in elective and appointive offices.
“These disparities have persisted despite Nigeria being a signatory to several global instruments and protocols, especially the Beijing Platform for Action (BPFA) that calls for 35 percent women representation, the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), particularly Goal 5 on gender equality, among several others.”
Check for this Part 2
SDG5: Excitement as UN, NASS, SFO deepen advocacy for women’s inclusivity in governance (2)