Mentoring young women on politics

Women in Politics Forum is an umbrella body of  all women in Nigerian politics whose membership  cuts across party lines while the DGD project which aided the summit is a joint donour basket fund with contribution from the  European Union, UK Aid, Department for Foreign Affairs  Trade  and Development and the  UNDP.In his opening address, […]

Women in Politics Forum is an umbrella body of  all women in Nigerian politics whose membership  cuts across party lines while the DGD project which aided the summit is a joint donour basket fund with contribution from the  European Union, UK Aid, Department for Foreign Affairs  Trade  and Development and the  UNDP.
In his opening address, Dr Mourtada Deme, Project Director of DGD who was represented by Mufuliat Fijabi, National Expert Gender said the young-women participants who hailed from diverse backgrounds and orientations have been carefully selected from the six states of the South West region. And the convergence is just one out of the six slated to take place in each of Nigerian geo-political zones.
Deme noted that the objective behind the summit is the need to create avenue for mentoring young women in politics as this is expected to enrich and expand the scope of women’s political participation in Nigeria.
“For us at DGD, we understand the need to consistently increase the pool of women politicians. And this we believe can only be successful through a mentorship programme like this. This mentorship programme creates a platform where the older and experienced women take the younger ones through the requisites of politics which need to be consistently increased for women’s political advancement,” Deme said.
In his remark, the Chairman Inter Party Affairs Council, IPAC, Dr Yunusa Tanko who also doubles as the National Chairman of National Conscience Party (NCP) said Nigerian political climate would be better for it if more women participate in politics because the few who had done so, had fared well.
“Women’s contribution to nation building should not be ignored in any way; their potentials in home making can doubtlessly be an immerse treasure when channeled towards active participation in politics.
“In the past females across the geopolitical divides of the country get overwhelmed by political activities, as they consider themselves unfit to participate or campaign against the male folk but few who were encouraged to go into politics, had been of great benefit to the country,” Tanko said.
According to IPAC chairman, women are highly intelligent people who need to be adequately empowered to contribute to their country’s leadership in whatever capacity, adding that for the country to experience meaningful development at all level, the female class should be encouraged to contribute their best without fear or intimidation from anyone.
Earlier, in the training programme, the leader of women in politics, Barrister Sharon Ikeazor urged the women to do more in terms of participating in party politics by attending meetings regularly and aspiring to contest for elections at the local, state or federal level.
Ikeazor called on the participants to become committed to the development of their immediate communities and the country in general, adding that politics should not be left in the hands of male aspirants alone.
A training facilitator at the event, Joy Ngozi Ezeilo on her part, urged the participants to demonstrate effectiveness in communication, saying this is very vital in leadership and that anyone who wants to lead must either possess this trait naturally or acquire the skill willfully.
“An aspiring politician must understand the importance of effective communication either on a one-on-one or group conversations. He or she must be bold enough to say something meaningful anytime the ball falls in his or her court. They must therefore know and understand the political terrain they want to feature in so as to be able to communicate effectively with the people in that constituency,” Ezeilo said.
The facilitator also underscored the importance of media visibility for young female politicians, advised them to establish and enjoy a good working relationship with the media in order to effect the dissemination of their agenda to the masses.
“The media, be it print or broadcast can make or mar you politically.
“So it is in your own interest to develop a good working relationship with them in order to ensure that you are well covered any time you organize an event which people should be aware of. It is what the media reports about you that the people will get used to. Hence, you must be friendly with the media and grant them interviews and lend your voice to national issues when asked to do so,” she said.
Scores of participants who spoke with the Home Front at the end of the two-day summit, expressed their delight with the programme. Many of them said the outing has opened them to new vista of life and they promised to put what they have learnt to practice.