The above title was the subject matter of a research project executed by Women Advocates Research & Documentation Centre (WARDC) and Women for Women International (WfWI). The disemination of the research findings was at Chelsea Hotel, Abuja on the 7th of May 2024. There were a number of 'Change Agents' from Plateau state in the room. They had earlier undergone training for their role.
L-R: Mrs. Bukola Onyinsi, Country Director Women for Women International (WfWI) & Dr. Dayo Kusa
Some of the participants are:
*Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi - Founding ED WARDC
*Mrs. Bukola Onyinsi - Country Director WfWI
*Hon. Miriam Onuoha - House of Representatives Chairperson on TETFUND
*Hon. (Dr) Adedayo Benjamins-Laniyi - PMS, WAS FCT
*Hon. Abiodun Essiet - SSA to the President on Community Engagemant (North Central)
*Representative of the Clerk of the House of Reps Committee on Women Affairs
*Dr. Dayo Oluyemi-Kusa - Consultant to PMS, WAS FCT
Dr. Dayo Kusa with one of the young Change Agents from Plateau State in a mother-daughter pose
Research Findings:
Dr. Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi disseminated the research findings. The research was completed in six months last year. The survey was on women's participation in democracy in Nigeria. The quest was to find out the impediments to active participation of women with Plateau state as a case study. Chapter 4 of the Nigerian Constitution clearly states the right to association and assembly by citizens. But the language used in the Constitution is problematic: not gender friendly. For example: 'He shall become the Governor', 'Chairman', etc.
250 persons from 3 Senatorial districts constituted the sample. There were 10 focal group discussions (FGDs). Women from Jos, Plateau state are a unique demographic - industrious and resilient. Plateau state passed the Gender & Equal Opportunity Bill into law over six years ago. Mr. Peter, a prominent official in an international NGO facilitated the proceess of fast tracking the passage of the Bill into Law. Note that Plateau state is a civil service state. The state also has few natural resorces.
The research is a call to action thus:
*Women should collaborate more with he for shes who are willing to advance their cause. This worked in Plateau state.
*We should never lose sight of UNSCR 1325. Involve more women in peace processes in peace/war/conflict time.
*Cultural norms are barriers to the advancement of women, but we should hasten to 'abolish' them cautiously. Confrontation does not always achieve the desired results. Lobbying and other more subtle routes could help like in Plateau state.
*Institutional constraints are also worrisome. This is not surprising because we are still in a patrirchal society. We need to strategise more to bring women into politics. She who wears the shoes knows where it pinches.
*Negative masculinity needs to be isolated and addressed. More of positive masculinity, please.
*We must always remember that women are not a homogeneous group. We should take this into consideration in our research.
*Sexual and Gender Based Violence (SGBV) is on the rise and it should be given urgent attention...
*We should identify the areas of intervention if we wish to change negative norms in our society.
*For future research, Women With Disability (WWD) should constitute a veritable sample for investigation...
We await the distribution of the hard copies of the text of the reseaarch report. The soft copies have landed in our emails. Kudos to WARDC and WfWI...
Dr. Dayo Kusa chilling @ the end of the meeting...
