ARIBASOYE LEADS EKITI LAWMAKERS TO 'HE FOR SHE' CONFERENCE

...Intensifies call for gender equity, women emancipation
The underrepresentation of women in politics and other critical areas in Nigeria has huge potential to impede the nation's development, limiting enriched perspectives and qualitative policies.
The Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly highlighted this in Ado Ekiti on Wednesday at the 'He for She Conference,' focusing on 'The Role of Men in Advancing Women’s Political Participation.'

Aribasoye said, "In Nigeria, women's political representation remains alarmingly low. Following the 2023 elections, women occupy a mere 3% of Senate seats and 4% in the House of Representatives. This stark underrepresentation not only undermines the principles of democracy but also impedes the nation's socio-economic development."

Commending the Balm in Gilead for Sustainable Development (BIGIF) for organizing the program, he underlined the drawbacks of the non-involvement of women in critical matters and the failure to accommodate their valuable inputs noting that their progressive partnership with men would yield great results.

"When women are excluded from decision-making, we lose the invaluable perspectives, experiences, and insights they bring to the table for drafting policies that truly serve the needs of our communities. We recognize that true progress cannot be achieved by women alone; it requires the active, conscious, and sustained engagement of men as allies and partners. We must dismantle the deeply entrenched patriarchal norms that continue to impede women’s full participation in the political sphere," the Speaker pointed out.

According to Aribasoye, the instrumentality of legislation could help tackle systemic barriers, adding that lawmakers are critical stakeholders in advancing the course of women and protecting their interests through supportive policies.

"A cornerstone of advancing women's political participation lies in robust legislation. As legislators, we hold a unique responsibility to craft laws that promote gender equality, protect women’s rights, and ensure their representation in government. Legislation serves as a powerful tool to dismantle systemic barriers; it provides the frameworks needed to enforce equality and accountability.

" By enacting gender-sensitive policies and laws, we can create an environment where women are empowered to seek leadership roles and contribute to decision-making processes."
He said government institutions must ensure policies that guarantee conducive environments for women's political engagement, adding that political parties must prioritize inclusivity, ensuring that women have equitable opportunities to ascend within party ranks and contest for elective positions.

Expressing his belief that advocacy should be firmly strengthened in addition to lawmaking, the Ekiti Speaker implored parents to give equal educational opportunities to their children, as challenged men to always apply certain self-generated questions to shape their perspectives on matters affecting women.

"Anytime you take up a position regarding women's interests, check within yourself: will the scenario you have painted as impossible still be the same if your daughter is involved?"

BIGIF personnel, Oluwatumininu Adedeji, in her speech, commended the passage of gender-related laws by the Ekiti State legislature, while she sought more representation of women in key areas.

Prof. Christopher Olumide, among other resource persons, identified discriminatory laws, limited access to media and education, tokenism, and political propaganda, among other challenges, as barriers to women's desirable strategic placements, calling  on key players to reflect deeply and work toward changing the old order.

The Ekiti Speaker was later decorated with a special 'He for She' emblem as a lead advocate.