The Senate President, Sen. David Mark, on Monday in Abuja said that women were underrepresented in all political structures in Nigeria.
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Mark, who was represented by Sen. Helen Esuene, said this at the Nigeria Women Strategy Conference, with the theme: “Building Bridges of Opportunity; 2015 and beyond.”
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He said that though women had participated actively in politics in the country, they had nothing to show for their participation except to mobilise for the electoral success of other people.
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The Senate president stressed that marginalisation of women could be addressed through the collaborative efforts of men and women.
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“We know that gender disparity in political participation is a global phenomenon and not peculiar to Nigeria alone, “he said.
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He said that the level of women’s participation in politics in Sub-Sahara Africa was 20.2 per cent, Asia, 17.9 per cent, Pacific 14.9 per cent and Arab 10.7 in Europe, it is 20.9 (Nordic countries excluded) and Americas, 22.7.
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“Nigeria as a country falls far below the above regional averages with only seven per cent female participation in parliament, “he said.
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He enjoined the stakeholders to make concerted efforts to address the continued marginalisation of women in politics.
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Mark also urged women to strive to rise above rivalry and jealousy that inhibit their collective progress in pursuing their political agenda.
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He restated continued support of the Senate and the National Assembly in ensuring that women take their positions in politics.
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In a remark, Speaker Aminu Tambuwal recommended that INEC considered dedicating certain constituencies to women in the next delineation of constituencies.
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He said that the House would support anything required to improve women’s participation in politics in the country.
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“We shall support every effort aimed at improving the lot of Nigerian women,” he said.
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According to him, the House has passed several laws that are gender sensitive.
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He added that there was the need for collaboration among members of the House on issues that tend to balance gender in the polity.
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Earlier, the Majority leader of the House, Rep. Mulikat Akande-Adeola, said that the conference was aimed at stratigising and preparing women for full participation in politics.
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She expressed optimism that as from 2015, women’s representation in elective and appointive positions, at the Federal, state and local government levels, would increase to 50 per cent.
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Akande-Adeola said that one of the objectives of the conference was ensuring grassroots mobilisation in favour of female candidates in 2015.
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The house leader commended President Goodluck Jonathan for sustaining his minimum quota of 35 per cent of women representation in political positions and offices.
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