The United Nations(UN) Women have launched resource centre to provide material support for women candidates across Nigeria ahead of the forthcoming general elections in 2023.
Penpushing reports that United Nations Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, Ms.Beatrice Eyong made this known at the dialogue with media executives, which was a follow up to an earlier brain storming session held in September where it was resolved to give visibility and media support to female candidates.
The September edition and first quarterly media dialogue was organized by United Nations (UN) Women in collaboration with Government of Canada and WFM radio station which was held Saturday in Lagos
Penpushing further reports that, Eyong disclosed that the first resource center for women in politics has already been launched in Abuja to be extended to Cross River and Borno States, and also called on media on need to always give the women politicians adequate publicity as done for their male counterparts
The United Nations Women Country Representative to Nigeria and ECOWAS, in her overview of steps to achieve set goals indicated that the resolutions ranging from training on gender sensitive reporting, to getting the contacts of women candidates, organizing roundtable for the women and the private sector were being implemented.
“Furthermore to this, the first resource center for women in politics has already been launched in Abuja to be extended to Cross River and Borno states”, Eyong emphasized.
Penpushing also reports that she explained that the resource center will be providing material support to female candidates in terms of printing their campaign materials and mentoring,just as she charged the media to be deliberate in the promotion of women in politics to guarantee sustainable national development and peace.
Penpushing also reports that Eyong urged the media to give visibility to women contestants irrespective of the size and popularity of their political parties by focusing on the women not just because of their gender but in the interest of Nigeria’s development.
The United Nations (UN) representative explained that a study has singled out women as playing the roles of actors, accomplices and victims in political development necessitating deliberate support for women in politics even beyond 2023 to nurture upcoming women politicians for 2027.
Penpushing reports that the dialogue, noted a sharp decline in women candidates in the 2023 election when compared to the 2015, 2019 elections, the unwillingness of women candidates to take advantage of media, their financial status and the choking male dominated political environment.
Meanwhile, the participants, therefore resolved to be more committed in highlighting the place and active participation of women in politics to promote sustainable development and peace in Nigeria.
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