The International Press Centre (IPC) in Lagos, Nigeria, has urged for more women to be involved in politics at every level of government in the country.
This information was conveyed in a statement released and signed on Friday, March 8, by Olutoyin Ayoade, Communications Officer at IPC, to mark International Women’s Day.
Aligning with this year’s United Nations theme, “Invest in women—accelerate progress,” IPC emphasized the urgent need to empower and invest in women by actively promoting their involvement in political leadership and decision-making roles.
Reflecting on the democratic challenges facing Nigeria, Mr. Lanre Arogundade, the Executive Director of IPC, stressed, “Through concerted efforts to dismantle barriers and promote inclusivity in political arenas, Nigeria can pave the way for a more representativedemocracy that genuinely reflects the voices and needs of all its citizens.”
He mentioned the invaluable perspectives and contributions that women bring to governance in Nigerian society.
Mr. Arogundade emphasized, “Empowering women in politics not only fosters fairness and equality but also enhances the overall effectiveness and legitimacy of governmental institutions.”
IPC’s initiatives in democracy have significantly bolstered the media’s pivotal role as a primary influencer in elections.
Mr. Arogundade highlighted, “Our efforts have focused on enhancing the capabilities of both the media and female candidates nationwide, enabling them to effectively leverage media influence in promoting democracy.”
Despite constitutional provisions and international agreements advocating for gender parity, IPC shed light on the continued inadequacy of women’s representation in political positions across Nigeria.
He noted, “The data reveals a notable decrease in the proportion of women in Nigeria’s National Assembly, marking a decline of 19% compared to the previous assembly.”
To mitigate these disparities, IPC called for key stakeholders to advocate for gender-equitable policies and initiate voter education campaigns on gender equality.
Mr. Arogundade emphasized the importance of addressing feminized poverty through economic equality initiatives.
