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From Adanna Nnamani, Abuja
In a bold push for greater female representation, Hadiza Kabiru, the former national women leader of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), has called on women to step up and take leadership roles within the union.
Kabiru said that women should no longer be relegated to secondary positions like financial secretary or treasurer, but should aspire to top leadership roles such as chairpersons and presidents.
While speaking at 8th SSANU National Women Conference on Wednesday in Abuja, she criticized the current trend of assigning women to less influential roles, arguing that leadership in the union should focus on service and not be limited by gender.
She acknowledged the challenges of union leadership, including demanding schedules and high-stakes negotiations, but asserted that women are equally capable of handling these responsibilities.
Highlighting a common issue where women themselves vote against female candidates, Kabiru emphasised the need for women to support each other in elections. She called for increased advocacy and education to address this problem and promote women’s active participation in union leadership.
According to her, “Women should be courageous enough to take up the up-front leadership position. Most of the times, you know, in the union. Women should feel free to aspire to take the leadership of the union. Not that you will be given peanuts or women’s commission. Left to me, there wouldn’t have been even the women’s commission.Come out with the resources you have up upstairs, your enthusiasm to serve selflessly, because in union, we are not political. it’s service to humanity.”
The National Women Coordinator of SSANU Agnes Nti, explained that one of the key outcomes anticipated from the conference is robust support from branch chairpersons for their respective branch women coordinators.
She said that this support is expected to manifest through the facilitation of branch programs on an annual basis and the replication of the conference’s objectives within local zones and branches.
Addressing questions about women’s aspirations to take over leadership roles within SSANU, Nti reflected on her initial call to action from their 2020 conference.
She noted that she has long anticipated a shift in leadership dynamics, expressing confidence that women will increasingly assume prominent roles within the organization, and even emerge as president at the expiration of the term of the current leadership.
To prepare women for these future leadership roles, Nti said she has been actively organising a range of training programs, workshops, and conferences to equip women with the necessary skills and knowledge to lead effectively.
“My take on that is this, even at, at our first conference when we came on board in 2020, I made mention that women should begin to develop themselves because there will be a time when the women will take over the leadership of SSANU and I wouldn’t be surprised if it happens as soon as our current national president in completes his tenure.”
On his part, Muhammad Ibrahim, the National President of SSANU, expressed strong support for increasing female representation in union leadership roles.
Ibrahim stated that women play critical roles within the union, noting their contributions to mobilization, welfare, and the overall well-being of members.He also praised women’s skills in organising and their ability to provide essential services, including medical advice and the domestication of union laws to enhance productivity.
The labour leader said that providing women with leadership opportunities within the union would allow them to operate effectively without interference.
Ibrahim expressed a positive outlook on the possibility of a woman succeeding him as president of SSANU after his tenure, and acknowledged that while politics is inherently democratic and relies on numbers, it would be beneficial to see a woman take on such a significant role.
