By Angela Atabo
The Alliance of All Progressives Congress (APC) Support Group, a coalition of women NGOs and groups has called for increased support and financial empowerment for women to participate in politics.
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This call, the group said, emphasises the need for targeted financial assistance and policies that addresses the unique challenges women face in political participation, particularly in terms of financial resources and opportunities
Dr Philomena Eriyo, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on the sidelines of the group’s meeting in preparation for its inauguration programme in Abuja that such assistance would spur women to contest.
Eriyo who is also the Special Adviser to the APC National Women Leader, Dr Mary Alile, said the group has a lot of intelligent, educated and smart women built in all spheres and strata of the society.
“We are ready to continuously respect our husbands, our leaders, the men, but we are also saying please give us respect to stand next to you.
“We also need the men to teach us the tricks and rules on how we can become leaders politically,” she said.
Eriyo said the executives of the women support groups and NGOs under APC came together to strategise on ways to be more engaged in politics.
She said the group was planning different initiatives on how to empower youths and women to learn the ropes of politics for sustenance.
Also speaking, Ms Francesca Musa Former Acting APC State Women Leader in Kaduna, said without a woman there cannot be a nation.
Musa expressed concern about the low percentage of women in the national assembly and called for financial assistance to support women participate fully in politics.
“One of the reasons women are not visible politically is lack of finances.
“We all know that without women, we cannot win elections.
“The implementation of the 35 per cent affirmative action is key,” she said.
The Chairman of the Advisory Council of the group, Tabitha Iliya-Sallah, said although women are beginning to show up in politics, more needs to be done to support them.
“I am from the north and most of us from the northern part of this country, think women participation in politics is not a proper way of doing things.
“However, now, we are trying to educate and also encourage women to get involved in what is happening and contribute from where they are to the development of the country.
“Women participation in politics is very important. There are a lot of things that women can contribute to the building of this country,so we should be encouraged and allowed to participate.
Hajiya Aminat Nasir-Akuh, the National Secretary for Alliance of APC Support groups and NGO said women were not asking to be at par with the men.
“What we are asking for is support for us to sit side by side the men on the table because there are discussions, negotiations that have to happen with women,” she said.(NAN)
