At policy levels of Nigeria’s administration, women did not have it so good until now.

[FMINigeria]

Ngozi Victoria Iheuwa

The issue of women empowerment in Nigeria has been as controversial as it is interesting in the last few decades. While some extreme conservative and male chauvinists believe that the question of women empowerment should not be a topic of discussion in any local or international fora, those on the other side of the divide – the liberals and moderates, insist that the Nigerian women need to be empowered just like their male counterparts in other parts of the world like Europe and Americas. Subsequently, there were parts of the declaration adopted at the Fourth World Conference on women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace, held in Beijing, China in September 1995.

The platform for action in its entirety, required strong commitments on the parts of international organizations, Government and institutions at all levels.

Nearly twelve years after, there has been a global effort by nations to lessen gender gap as reflected in commitments and policies. Some advanced countries, however, had taken giant strides in women empowerment before the convention.

In Nigeria, the Administration of President Goodluck Jonathan made significant impact in this regard. This is in view of the fact that in all the 100 years of Nigeria's corporate existence, it has never witnessed the monumental visibility and inclusion of women in governance and decision-making as it has in the past two years. In the spirit of its expressed policy in support of 30% Affirmative Action for the benefit of women, the Federal Government made conscious and positive efforts to giving appropriate measures to reflect a good percentage of women in governance.

That President Goodluck Jonathan believed in the capabilities of the women folk is not in doubt, what with the way he kicked off his administration in 2011 with the appointment of 13 cabinet Ministers, 5 Special Advisers, 10 female Ambassadors, 16 female Judges of the Court of Appeal; 11 permanent secretaries, 16 female Judges of the Federal High Court, 3 female Judges of the Supreme Court, 6 female Judges of the National Industrial Court; the Acting President, Court of Appeal and The Chief Justice of the Federation. By this, the President has made good his campaign promises by raising the number of women in decision-making positions to an unprecedented level.

Moreover, this Administration, with due respect, has focused more on the visibility, genuine empowerment, dignity and participation of women in politics than any time in our history. Nigerian women never had it so good; women empowerment has taken root in the country. Women now have a place of pride to operate in politics, as they are now sure of appointive positions. This is a far cry from what it use to be, where women were completely shut out.

Like the Oliver Twist of old, Nigerian women are asking for more especially in the area of legislation in order to make those good things done by the Jonathan Administration, stand the test of time. In fact, the issues of women empowerment are tantamount to societal empowerment. As you empower a woman, you empower generations yet unborn. These are my submissions.

Ngozi Victoria Iheuwa, an Information Officer, sent this piece from the National Press Center, Abuja.

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Federal Ministry of Information (FMI) Nigeria

[FMINigeria]