Building leadership skills in women

In lieu of this, the Women in Politics Forum (WIPF) with support from the United Nations Development Programme Democratic Governance for Development (UNDP – DGD) Project organised a three day leadership training for women leaders in politics last week.The WIPF is a forum for women politicians who work across party lines with a focus on […]

In lieu of this, the Women in Politics Forum (WIPF) with support from the United Nations Development Programme Democratic Governance for Development (UNDP – DGD) Project organised a three day leadership training for women leaders in politics last week.
The WIPF is a forum for women politicians who work across party lines with a focus on increasing the number of women who participate actively in politics and contribute significantly to Nigeria’s democratic process.
Serving  and aspiring women politicians from the political parties in the country attended the programme.
National woman leader of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Hajiya Amina Mohammed who was a participant at the workshop said it afforded her the opportunity to be enlightened on leadership skills.
She said she  learnt that as a woman leader she is not only a leader in the office but wherever she finds herself. “You can exhibit quality leadership skills in the home, in the market and even on the streets. You are a leader everywhere and you have to exhibit those qualities.”
She said women who want to contest in 2015  General Elections should strategise ahead of time. “You don’t just start when elections are around the corner because it might be too late.  They should strategize on their campaign and delivering good to the people you want to represent.”
Another participant, Glory Ameh of the Allied Congress  Party of Nigeria  said she learnt how to be a leader at home, in the office and as a politician.
She said she also leant how to communicate, campaign using the social media and network with the media.
Chair Women in Politics Forum Barrister  Ebere Ifendu said the leadership training was organised for women leaders to build their capacity in the areas of communication, advocacy fundraising, ampaign strategies, lobbying and networking.
She said women need training in these areas to strengthen their participation in politics particularly in the 2015 elections and beyond.
gave the advise during the organised by the forum and UNDP DGD. Main aim is to vuild the capacity of women  various political parities are respected and we believe more women in their part and have more women in parties.
Well suppoted we have very vapable will help more women participate in politics organised to strengthen women’s participation in politics the  need capacity building in leadership, self esteem building, campaign strategies, Communication, fund raising etc. to prepare them for participation in politics
Ifendu who is also the women leader of Labour party also advised women aspiring to contest for various positions in the 2015 elections to start preparing early in order to be successful and others increase the number of women participating in politics.
Vice president of the association Barrister Sharon Ikpeazor  said the training is important because there are still women who just come to rallies to clap and dance and they need leader ship training for them to run for offices. “To be in a leadership role, they need to know the basic rudiments of leadership, “she said.
She said the major challenge facing women in politics is funding branding needs to be inculcated in them so that that the community and others can support her.
National Gender Expert UNDP-DGD Mufuliat Fijabi also enlightened the participants on the concept of gender  stereotypes and its implication for women’s political participation.
She advised women make constructive use of jealousy instead of using it to pull each other down.