Bisi Adeleye Fayemi, the former first lady of Ekiti State and wife to former Governor John Kayode Fayemi, has advocated for the inclusion of women into government and decision-making corridors in Nigeria, News About Nigeria reports.
She made this call while speaking at the 8th Voice of Women Conference and Award, titled, “Achieving Women’s Inclusion for a Sustainable Nigeria,” in Abuja on Thursday.
She noted that the voices of women must be heard in Nigeria, adding that the sidelining of women when it comes to decision-making in the country must be brought to an end.
Erelu Fayemi, however, noted that for this to happen, certain prerogatives must be put in place, including having the political will to ensure that gender equality is taken seriously in the country.
She further stated that legal and policy frameworks should be made a priority, adding that the government should put laws in place that protect the rights and interests of women and give them a safety net.
Erelu Bisi emphasised the need for the government to claim ownership of the inclusion of women into government and remain vigilant.
She further noted that the legacy that should be built by the government in matters of women’s inclusion should be one that is intentional and if benefit to others.
She urged women to “bring out their wrappers,” which she described as standing in solidarity with one another and supporting and assisting each other to achieve greater good.
She also appealed to the governments of other states in the country to take lessons from both the Kwara and Ekiti State governments in including women in matters of government, adding that they are both the states with the highest number of women in government.
The former Minister of Women Affairs, Iyom Josephine Amen, also speaking at the event, noted that the input of grassroots women cannot be overemphasised when it comes to achieving women’s inclusion in government.
Iyom, who has been in the political space for decades, disclosed that women were formerly sidelined when it came to participating in partisan politics, adding that efforts to break that were met with resistance from the men.
She, however, maintained that women must remain determined not to let men cheat them out of leadership opportunities.
She stated that women in positions of leadership must have value and be ready to give all it takes to better the lives of other women.
She stressed that the place of mentorship cannot be overlooked and urged women who have passed through leadership positions to support upcoming women to be able to make a difference.
According to her, women should be humble to learn from others and take mentorship seriously.
The CEO of Women Radio and convener of the VOW Conference, Toun Okewale Sonaiya, noted that the goal of the conference is to see more women in positions of power, authority, and leadership and stated that to achieve this, women must work strategically and without bias.
She stated, “No matter her ethnicity if a bold woman steps forward to lead, we must support her. We must not be discouraged by past disappointments or individual relationships and instead focus on building a future where women lead with strength and compassion.
“I’ve heard comments like, “when women get there, they forget those who supported them”, I say let them get there first. Our power as women lies in our collective ability to support each other.
“We must set aside our emotions and societal expectations and come together to empower more women into leadership.”
