By Great Chidubem
Former Anambra Commissioner of Information and the first female Professor of Mass Communication in Africa, Prof. Stella Chinyere Okunna, has expressed frustration over continue neglect of women in political appointments and empowerments by successive governments in Anambra state.
Okunn said since the creation of Anambra state 31 years ago, the womenfolk had been greatly marginalized despite their great socio-economic and political potentials.
The erudite scholar stated this in an interview with Radio Nigeria, Awka on the 31-year Anniversary of the creation of Anambra state.
According to her, comparatively Anambra state have done well looking critically at the journey since creation as a lot of have been accomplished by successive administrations.
Professor Okunna noted that given the position of the state in Nigeria and the caliber of personalities it has produced globally, certain indices should have been better than they are.
She argued that Anambra despite being home to many entrepreneurial and hardworking Nigerians, has not witnessed the expected rate of development.
“The state have done relatively well but for who they are and what it stand for in Nigeria, thirty one years since its creation it could have done much more especially in politics”
Okunna, who described women of the state as more enlightened, educated, courageous and capable than their counterparts in other parts of the country, regretted that they have not done well in both elective and appointive positions.
She regretted that the governors had not given the women folk enough political appointments which is also applicable at the local government level too.
“Not many women have aspired, some have aspired for elective positions and even those who aspired have not been elected. I think the reason being that the male folk still believe that women are not good enough”.
“But even if she doesn’t aspire, what about appointive positions. The current house of assembly has only one woman elected out of thirty constituencies. The transition committee recently appointed also had only two women out of twenty one appointed persons.”
The University Don, who said she believes so much in the antecedents of Governor Chukwuma Soludo, expressed the hope that his administration will do more in terms of women inclusion in governance.
Professor Okunna, who is the Deputy Vice Chancellor of St Pauls University, Awka, recalled that the only time more women were recognized in appointive positions was during the administration of Goodluck Jonathan as president and Mr Peter Obi as Governor of Anambra State.
