Despite the Beijing Conference Communiqué of 35% affirmative role for women in governance, Nigerian government is yet to respond fully.
In all of Nigeria’s 11 years of democratic dispensation women have only occupied 10% position in government.
The late First Lady, Mrs. Maryam Badamosi Babangida was the harbinger of gender sensitive in the country. She created Women Empowerment through her pet programme Better Life for Rural Women.
This was later translated to Better Life for Rural Dwellers with increased awareness both locally and internationally.
Since then the issue of gender equity and sensitivity have become a refrain both in social and religious circles.
Lately Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and religious bodies have added their voices to the plight of Nigerian women.
A religious organisation, Mountain of Fire and Miracle Ministries (North Central Region I) Abuja have added to the lone voice of Nigerian women as most of them suffer from cultural and traditional distress.
Pastor (Mrs.) Shade Olukoya wife of Dr. D.K. Olukoya, the General Overseer of the church worldwide recently in Abuja during its first regional women convention spoke about her views on women.
According to Mrs. Olukoya in line with the theme of the convention “Women of Destiny” it is basically to pull women together to teach them the word of God and to enlighten them about their personality, to discover their person and to help them create input into their homes.
Mrs. Shade Olukoya said that some of the things that informed the gathering is because most women are lost about who they are in respect of their primary function which is in the area of marriage. Emphasising that, though most women are afraid of marriage, the conference is to further teach them God’s word towards marriage which is a permanent institution
Based on this premise any nation that would not allow women into their system of government is incomplete. Unless they allow women into their system of government to put in their contributions the nation is incomplete.
