In this interview with YEJIDE GBENGA-OGUNDARE, Oluwatoyin Ogedengbe, a faith-based counsellor, sexuality educator, child rights advocate, development worker,k Executive Director of Pan African Purpose-Driven Women Initiative (www.papdwi.org) and Coordinator of Child Protection Network, Oyo State, speaks on women in governance, 35 percent affirmative action and the need for streams of income, among other issues.
How easy is it for women in governance?
Well, I will say it is not very easy because only few women have opportunity to lead at various levels. This is because women are erroneously perceived as being inferior to men and must always be led by men. Some of these perceptions are mystified in cultural, social and religious beliefs especially in male dominated fields while at some other times it is as a result of lack of support from fellow women, lack of access to financial resources and adequate time necessitated by the need to take care of the home front.
What do you think about the 35 percent affirmative action?
Though the National Gender Policy (NGP) has formulated a 35 percent Affirmative Action (AA) in Nigeria since 2006, a policy which demands that 35 percent of women be involved in all governance processes, it is rather worrisome that NGP is acknowledged but is not being executed due to non- availability of appropriate structures and processes for implementation.
According to some reports by UN Women, data show that women are underrepresented at all levels of decision-making worldwide and that achieving gender parity in political life is far off. As of September 15, 2023, there are 26 countries where 28 women serve as heads of state and/or government. At the current rate, gender equality in the highest positions of power will not be reached for another 130 years. Just 15 countries have a woman head of state, and 16 countries have a woman head of government.
First-time compiled data by UN Women show that “women represent 22.8 percent of cabinet members heading ministries, leading a policy area as of January 1, 2023. There are only 13 countries in which women hold 50 percent or more of the positions of Cabinet Ministers leading policy areas.
Alliances for Africa (AfA),an international African led non-governmental human right, peace and sustainable development organisation is said to be “active in ensuring the full implementation of 35 percent affirmative action across South-East, Nigeria through the UN Women Funds For Gender Project currently ongoing in the five southeastern states; Abia Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi and Imo. In 2016, the ongoing project trained 145 female politicians selected from the five south-east project states and within 18 months, recorded a success of three elected female politicians as local government chairmen and member of the state house of assembly, 11 female politicians appointed members occupying decision-making positions in their respective states. The goal of the project is to have more women in elective positions to drive the course of women forward and make impacts among developing economies where it matters most.”
There are also some recent agitations for more than 35 percent representations for women in all political positions, considering the fact that they make up to 49.4 percent (94.2 million persons) of the entire population in Nigeria.
What are your thoughts on women having streams of income?
It is a good and welcome idea. Every woman should be an asset and not a liability. Women are naturally wired with the ability to multi -task and, as such, many women are able to readily acquire skills in academics and entrepreneurship.
So long as they can cope and maintain a healthy balance in every aspect of life without wearing themselves thin, women should have streams of income in order to be economically and financially empowered and so they can support their husbands in building virile families when and if they get married.
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