NGO wants more women in governance: Advocates more girl child education
By Punarimam Fehintola
Christian Aid ,a non governmental organization has called on government from all levels to ensure education for the girl child and also focus on improving infrastructural development in the internally displaced camps so that children there can also go to school.
The chief executive officer of Christian aid Amanda Mukwashi said the livelihood of people in the IDPs are not encouraging especially the children and women who are mostly affected “ I have been to Maiduguri and the IDPs in particular and what shokes me when you look at the infrastructure there they have collapse and the women and children there bear the brunch little children and women who do not have any where else to go and even the little shelters have been destroyed”.
Amanda disclosed this during a national symposium on women in governance organized by center for leadership strategic development in Abuja.
She further stressed the need for government to ensure education especially of the girl child. “ in 10 years to 15years to come what becomes of these children who have no education what becomes of them that means they may not be able to participate in politics and also get appointed in political positions and in terms of gender justice I am disappointed”.
Meanwhile the co- chairman of side by side movement Rev Israel Akanji said there is the need for religious leaders need to examine the scriptures “ some religious Leaders have misinterpreted the scriptures to support sub- judication of women ,part of what we are saying now is that we examine scripture to have proper interpretation”.
The law says 35% should go to women and we are not implementing it so what we are doing here is to come together as religious and traditional leaders to use our positions and influence our communities so that the right would be done to have gender equality particularly more women participation in governance”.
Another co- chair prof Mustapha Ismail says the holy Qur’an has a whole chapter dedicated to women “ we should go back to the Qur’an educate our people on gender equality”.
At the occasion the Ibenanaowei of Ekpetiana clan, HRH king Bubaraye Dakolo urged women to train their boys on the need to care and res women and also take advantage of their number to outshine the men. “ Don’t just bear a child and abandoned him focus on grooming the child to grow and respect women”.
He further added that traditional leaders should also do their parts in their communities “ traditional rulers have a lot to do, they should discourage practices that would not give women the opportunity to be part of governance”.
His Royal highness calls on government to provide provide schools and put laws that will ensure education is compulsory for every child especially the girl child.
