Niger State Governor and Chairman North Central States Governors’ Forum (NCSGF), Abubakar Sani Bello says promoting equal access of women to power, decision making and leadership at all levels is a necessary precondition for the proper functioning and survival of democracy in the country.
The Governor, in a statement signed by his Chief Press Secretary Mary Noel Berje to mark the 2022 International Women’s Day (IWD) also said men remain a veritable ally in supporting the tremendous efforts by women, the world over, to achieve a gender-balanced future.
Governor Sani Bello, noted, with dismay, the refusal of the National Assembly to pass the Bills to provide for affirmative action for women in political party administration and for a seat for women in the National and State Houses of Assembly.
He opined that, for the growth of our nascent democracy and the obvious vulnerability of the womenfolk, there’s the growing urgency to step up and politically encourage, economically empower the women in order to shape a more egalitarian society.
According to him, this year’s International Women’s Day, with the theme; ” Gender Equality Today for a Sustainable Tomorrow”, is a further call to accelerate women overall development stressing that ‘the rise of women is not about the fall of men.
The Governor acknowledged that women in the country have had to contain with systemic and societal challenges over the years stressing that removing stereotypes, conscious and unconscious biases as well as discrimination against women is key to the nation’s sociopolitical and economic development.
Governor Sani Bello said his administration is conscious of their increasing influence, visibility and has made a positive difference for women since assumption of office in 2015.
“We have prioritize effective participation of women in governance and decision making, done everything possible to minimize violence against women and have continued to support, empower hardworking and meritorious women to accomplish greater things in various spheres of endeavour”, he stated.
While felicitating with the Nigerian Women, Governor Sani Bello admonished them to remain steadfast and resilient in confronting the present day challenges maintaining that there’s the need for progressive mindsets to support women actualize their full potentials.
The International Women’s Day is a global day set aside everywhere around the world to deliberate on the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women as well as stepping up on the campaign against stereotypes and various violence against women across the globe.
