Toun Okewale Sonaiya, chief executive officer (CEO) of WFM 91.7, has asked governors elected on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) to nominate women for ministerial appointments in the incoming administration of Bola Tinubu, the president-elect.
In an article on Saturday, Sonaiya, who runs the first radio station for women in Nigeria, said both genders should take on the responsibility of rebuilding the country.
She said while men are great nation builders, they need the support of women, adding that the country would progress with the female gender participating in the process.
“I appeal to all APC state governors to nominate at least one woman among the three names they send to the incoming administration for ministerial appointments,” Sonaiya said.
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“One female nomination per three nominees by governors, APC chairmen and leadership in non-APC states would translate to approximately 35 percent in accordance with the affirmative action and bridge the vacuum created in 2023 elective positions.
“Despite increased lobbying and advocacy for gender balance and female inclusion in politics in the last three years, the just-concluded 2023 elections saw the lowest and most demoralising percentage of elected women senators and house of representatives, with only three and 14, respectively.
“The ninth national assembly rejected the passage of the five gender bills, failing Nigerian women. Nigerian women are hopeful that the 10th national assembly will pass the bills for Nigeria’s development.”
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Sonaiya said political parties must revisit their manifestos and ensure women are recognised within the party.
“I hope that our amiable governors will raise the stakes of our polity for the sake of the great republic of Nigeria and that the incoming administration will both uphold the demands of women as promised and write its name in the books of Nigerian history in good standing,” she said.
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