The Executive Director, Social and Integral Development Centre, Ugochi Ehiaburuike, says gender inclusion is critical to the achievement of sustainable development.
Ehiahuruike disclosed this at Ogbaru Main Market during a market sensitization on gender equity, social inclusion and accountability organized by for Anambra North senatorial district.
It was organized by SIDEC in collaboration with the Joint National Association of Persons with Disability, (JONAPWD), the National Council for Women Societies (NCWS), with support from Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA) in partnership with Policy and Legal Advocacy Centre (PLAC) and Peering Advocacy and Advancement Centre in Africa (PAACA)
The SIDEC ED argued that national growth had been retarded for decades because women have not been allowed equitable access to power like their male counterparts.
According to her, Nigeria will enjoy quality and accountable leadership when women are permitted to occupy leadership positions at all levels of the society.
“We currently have only one woman in the 30-member House of Assembly in Awka and only one woman as local government chairperson out of 21 of them.
“We also have six women serving currently as commissioners with Governor Chukwuma Soludo”.
Representation at all levels
Ehiahuruike noted that women need to be adequately represented at all levels including communities and markets.
“This is why we mount this campaign. We want to see more women occupy leadership positions in our markets.
“When women are permitted to lead, the country benefits because they are better managers of resources.
“They are less prone to corruption because they are thinking about the implications of their actions on the generations unborn.
She noted satisfactorily that a similar campaign for women involvement in ASATU (now ASTUC) leadership yielded positive outcome.
“The campaign led to the creation of the Women Wing. We have brought same to the market to get women included in market governance.
Ehiahuruike however stressed the need for women to justify the confidence reposed in them.
“I will also appeal to women not to disappoint when the inclusion we are advocating for is granted.
We must always justify the confidence reposed in us.
Responding, the woman leader of the market, Ugochi Nevorji, states this readiness of the women traders to assume position of responsibility.
This she noted would enable them to contribute their quota to societal development.
“Women cannot afford to continue to stay aloof. The society belongs to all of us regardless of gender difference.
“Time has come for women. We must start coming out. We have the right to participate”.
Chairman of the market, Ndubuisi Ochogu, also remarked, “We don’t joke with our women. We are committed to ensuring that women get what belongs to them.
“We will not stop carrying them along in what we do because they are an integral part of the market”.
The sensitization programme will be organized in Anambra Central and South senatorial zones.
