By Praise Chinecherem
The National Orientation Agency (NOA) in Anambra State has challenged women and youths in the state to take advantage of their voting strength to change the quality of leadership in Nigeria.
State Director, Barr. Charles Nwoji stated this while presenting his keynote address, titled ‘Women and Youths As Critical Constituents For Successful 2023 General Elections,’ at a Stakeholders’ Consultative Dialogue organized by the Women Situation Room Nigeria (WSRN).
Nwoji, represented by Deputy Director, Sir Joseph Uchendu described women and youths as critical stakeholders in elections in view of their increasing population.
He however regretted that its recent voter education advocacy ahead of the general elections indicated that more work was needed in awareness creation especially among women.
He said, “With the youths accounting for 70 percent of Nigeria’s 217 million population, and the female population in comparison to the male population standing at 49.31 percent, both are critical stakeholders in elections.
“With this statistics, there is no iota of doubt as to the segment of Nigerian population vested with the numerical strength to elect crop of leaders capable of evolving more equitable, secure and progressive country for all Nigerians, especially as regards women and youths.
“There is the critical need for all including Women Situation Room Nigeria (WSRN) to take this campaign down to the grassroots especially to our market women, village women and youths who seem to constitute the greater percentage of voters with void votes, to vote right this time.
“Definitely, your consultative Dialogue today would record far reaching decisions geared towards identifying and breaking the barriers to increased women participation in politics and ensuring violence free elections.”
One of the resource person, Suzy Metuh described the forthcoming election as critical, insisting that “we either get it right or let Nigeria sink. But we cannot let this country sink.”
Discussing the rapid response report of Anambra State, generated by the WSRN Anambra Focal point, drawn from questionnaires, Metuh identified politicians, unemployed youths and media as drivers of violence during elections.
“Government can do more in terms of providing responsive and reliable security during elections, while politicians need to allow the electorate vote their choices.
“Politicians and government should also refrain from inducements to influence voting.
Earlier, State Coordinator, WSRN, Hope Okoye said the dialogue was to ensure Nigeria elections were peaceful as women and youth play substantive role in sustaining and building peace in communities, states and national levels.
Okoye, is the Founder/Executive Director, Integrated Anti-Human Trafficking and Community Development Initiative (INTACOM Africa), the WSRN focal Organization in Anambra working closely with other NGO partners and will be representing WSRN in all INEC activities in Anambra state.
“Governance can be said to be effective when it is all inclusive, providing for citizens of all cadres and is not a reserve of a select few. UN’s CEDAW is clear about gender mainstreaming as far as politics is concerned.
“Women’s participation in politics needs to be increased in Anambra state, More Women to freely enrol into politics and supported, No segregation of women politicians and non-violence elections,” she said.
