In a town hall meeting held on Wednesday, 23rd November, 2022 organized by 100 women lobby group in partnership with other advocacy groups, women were charged to actively participate in the coming election and beyond.
The even took place at the NUJ Hall, Iyaganku Ibadan where the Guest Speaker, Dr Samuel Odobo, a Peace and Security Consultant, advised women to see that both genders have equal stake in the nation’s project.
Odobo said that women have the capabilities to inspire better development, if given chance in political process due to their gifts, natural and traditional roles as mothers or care givers in the society.
“Studies have shown that women have capacity to form alliance and corporations across party lines, which would translate to strong political system needed in Nigeria,” he said.
The Commissioner for Women Affairs and Social Inclusion in Oyo State, Mrs Kafilat Olayiwola, represented by Mrs Ibironke also called on women to actively participate in the 2023 general election.
Olayiwola said that active participation of women in politics and policy making would lead to a peaceful and egalitarian society.
She said that there was need to educate women at the rural areas on importance of having women in politics.
Furthermore, the state Commissioner of Police, CP Williams Adebowale, represented by CSP Uduak Edet, said that police in the state have itemised possible areas of challenges during the forthcoming elections, adding that they were currently being addressed.
Adebowale said that the state command had also embarked on training and retraining of its officers on the need for free and fair elections.
Commenting, Mr Michael Adetayo, the Commandant, Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC), said that the state command was collaborating with other sister security agencies in the state to ensure credible elections.
Also, Mrs Catherine Ogwu, the Gender Desk Officer, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) in the state, said that her commission recognised the role of women in election process, saying that it led to creation of gender desk in the commission.
Ogwu expressed the readiness of INEC to conduct acceptable elections for Nigerians in 2023.
Earlier, the state Coordinator of, the group, Mrs Ijeoma Ladele, urged the Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), Faith Based Organisation (FBOs), Non-Governmental Organisation (NGOs) and other stakeholders at the meeting to extend the sensitisation to women at the grassroots.
Ladele said that this would raise the consciousness of women at the grassroots and local communities, markets and other small groups on importance of women’s participation in politics.