The Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ), Ondo State chapter, has appealed to Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to include more women in his administration to promote gender equality, fairness, and inclusion.
Women journalists made this call during a program to mark this year’s International Women’s Day (IWD) with the theme “Inspire Inclusion.”
NAWOJ, in a statement jointly signed by the state chairperson, Comrade Tola Gbadamosi, and state Secretary, Comrade Oluwatosin Ighoteguono, posited that gender diversity in leadership promotes better innovation and governance.
The association noted that democracy cannot be completely entrenched until women are included in the electoral process and governance.
Ondo NAWOJ urged the government and relevant stakeholders to ensure that the economic disparities persisting between men and women globally are phased out by making commitments to promote gender equality and economic inclusion.
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It also stressed the need for the government to, as a matter of urgency, expand childcare places for working parents and support private members’ bills to make changes to employment laws favoring the womenfolk.
The association suggested that there must be women’s economic empowerment, recruiting, retaining, and developing female talent, helping women and girls make informed decisions about their health, involving women and girls in sustainable agriculture and food security, as well as providing women and girls with access to quality education and training.
Ondo NAWOJ condemned discrimination against women, calling on all organizations, groups, and individuals to play their part in the community, workplace, and home to ensure women are adequately included in the decision-making process.