…Calls for legislation, policies to enhance women participation in decision making

The Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) has felicitated with women in Nigeria, Africa, and worldwide, in commemoration of International Women’s Day.

The CDD on Monday, in Abuja, said in a press statement that notwithstanding the devastating impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on lives and livelihoods, women have remained resilient as they continue to play pivotal roles in societies.

It notes that in terms of leadership, evidence abounds that even in the context of COVID-19, countries led by women were able to put forward strategies to limit the pandemic’s devastating impacts.

The CDD pointed out that women have continued to demonstrate their capacities in various sectors such as education, health, business and technological innovation.

Director of CDD, Idayat Hassan, in that statement said the centre “uses this moment to celebrate great women achievers who shattered glass ceilings and made history.

“Worthy of note is the beautiful story of Kamala Harris, who defied the odds last November to emerge as the first female Vice President of the United States.

“Another instructive story would be found in the emergence of our own Dr NgoziOkonjoIweala as the Director-General of the World Trade Organization (WTO).

It is an important lesson of inclusion that while Harris is also the first Asian and African to be Vice President in the United States, Okonjo Iweala is the first African to lead the WTO.”

Reflecting on the theme of this year’s celebration: “Women in leadership: Achieving an equal future in a COVID-19 world,” as well as the achievements by some women in their chosen areas of endeavour, Hassan said: “We have, therefore, deemed it important to focus on encouraging women and girls around the globe to collectively organize to bring about the change they want to see”.

Furthermore, the CDD said it would use this year’s commemoration of the IWD to encourage women and girls in Nigeria and West Africa to #ChooseToChallenge and make a positive impact in every aspect of their lives and that of others.

So, to address the challenges, that hold women back and limit their potentials, CDD calls on stakeholders to work together to address gender inequalities by deepening women’s participation in politics, economy, education, health and other critical sectors in society.

“With the #ChooseToChallenge mantra, CDD would strengthen its interventions to promote and protect the rights of women and girls.

We must #ChooseToChallenge barriers in governance, political and economic systems, which prevent women from achieving their true potentials”. She said.

The CDD said is convinced that these amazing stories point to the possibilities of an inclusive future anchored on gender parity and women's participation in decision-making in the local, national and international arena.

It said despite the myriads of challenges ranging from entrenched patriarchal systems, marginalization in decision making, the pandemic of rape and gender violence, women can still defy the odds to shine alongside the other gender.

But the centre argues that nevertheless, that societies would derive more benefits from opening up political and economic spaces for women to play their roles in the quest for a better world beyond the inspiring stories of a few women who overcome many challenges to get to the peak.

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