Unhindered participation of women in the social, economic and political activities of the nation is the panacea to the resolution of the current development challenges facing Nigeria, especially Kogi State. This assertion was made by the founder of EduShine Educational Support Foundation, Dr Safiya Stephanie Musa while delivering a paper at the interactive session with gubernatorial aspirants in the forthcoming November 16 governorship election in Kogi State.
Represented by Hajia Salamatu Abdullahi of Kogi State University Anyigba, Dr Safiya stressed the need for change of attitudes by people toward women’s participation in the socioeconomic and political activities in Kogi State, saying active women participation in the affairs of the nation is the quickest route to achieving cohesive and sustainable development.
According to her, all attempts at achieving real development in Kogi State and the nation at large in line with the sustainable development goals of the United Nations aimed at addressing the development needs of the societies would remain futile, unless women were given the necessary support and encouragement to participate actively as partners with men.
The development enthusiast traced the nexus between good governance and development efforts and frowned at women’s low participation in development activities especially in Kogi State, noting that a phenomenon should be of concern to all. “Not until 2016 when a woman was appointed as Secretary to the State Government in Kogi State, accessing real executive powers in the state by women had always been an illusion since the creation of the State,” she stated.
“Moreover, since the past 20 years when democratic rule returned to the country, no women in the state had been elected to the National Assembly as a representative in any of the chambers and no woman has ever won election into any of the local government areas in the state as a chairman.
“Still, no woman had been considered suitable enough to be elected as Deputy Governor in the state’s over 27 years of existence,” Dr Safiya declared.
While paying tribute to women across the country who have broken the barriers by emerging successful in their various professions through personal efforts and perseverance, Dr Safiya lamented at the attitudes of some women who would not support other women to succeed in their chosen careers and efforts at achieving national productivity. She called on women to change such negative attitudes and appealed to those struggling not to give up in their determination to achieve self reliance, saying no one can achieve success on the platter of gold.
“Success must come with determination, sacrifice and commitment to getting it right,” Safiya stated.
She also stressed the need for elites to join forces in proffering solutions to the development challenges and demands for good governance facing the state. According to her, politicians owe the rest of the members of the society responsibility to chat the rightful course for the resolution of the development challenges by always showing willingness to build consensus through interactive sessions.
She further appealed for sustained cooperation from members of the public in the collective desire to get it right politically in the State.
The one day interactive session organised under the auspices of the Action Aid Activisa had as its theme, ‘Good governance and sustainable development.’ Among resolutions reached at the end of the program were the need to avoid societal ills among the youths of the state; support for productive politicking among the people, change in economic thinking by people and promotion of self development by individuals regardless of government in power at anytime in the State.
It would be recalled that Dr Safiya Musa delivered a lecture at the program titled, ‘The Role of Women in Sustainable Development in Kogi State.’
