At the end of the 3-day needs-based technical support and training to strengthen women in political parties to become political leaders workshop, participants have equivocally agreed that the training has further raised women’s political consciousness.
The Non-profit and non-governmental organization, Dinidari Africa with support from UN Women successfully strengthened the capacity of some of the women political leaders selected from across the 23 local government areas of Kaduna State.
The event which was held 13th-15th December 2022 at Asaa Pyramid Hotel, Kaduna, saw over seventy women political leaders from different political parties in attendance, according to all sessions rapt attention was aimed to show the women the importance of party legislation, the hierarchy in politics and the concept of Godfatherism, as well as how to be the right people for politics and eliminating fear.
The Facilitator, Mr.Leslie Babangida Dong said training sessions examined some of the issues that concern women in politics.
“We looked at Gender and gender mainstreaming, using the gender lens to look at Gender participation in politics especially as it concerns women”.
“We have been able to establish that gender roles are beginning to change over time and in various locations”, he explained.
Some of the participants speak about their experiences at the end of the training and described the training as something one cannot buy with money.
“We have nothing to say to Dinidari, you have done everything to us in politics and have taken us a step ahead”.
First to speak with http://www.newspanorama.com.ng was Josephine Sabo, Assistant State Woman Leader, New Nigeria People Party, (NNPP) from Gonin-Gora, Kakau ward of Chikun Local Government Area, who said the women leaders were educated on their rights.
She said, “We will let men know that in politics women have their quota and it is our responsibility to further enlighten them on the need for inclusion in all positions”
“They always see women as emotional but when an office or position is given to women, we use this emotional feeling to make sure we move forward by providing services to our people, unlike the men who most times go for their pockets or family and friends”.
On her part, the Woman leader of the Labour Party in Kaduna State, Hajiya Hadiza Dahun, described the training workshop as wonderful.
“I started politics 22yrs back, I have to tell you the truth, this training by your Organization is so wonderful and I have learned a lot and would take the knowledge to my party”.
“I plan to bring together all the 23 LGA Labour Party’s women leaders to step down what I learned from this training to also empower them so that they can go and mentor other mentees”.
“This training is something you cannot buy with your money, we have nothing to say to Dinidari, you have done everything to us in politics and have taken us a step ahead”.
She, however, expressed gratitude to Dinidari Africa for the empowerment of women.
Also, Mrs. Rhoda Giwa, a PDP leader in Kaduna North and stakeholder in the zone, representing the PDP woman leader of the Party, disclosed that “I have been in politics since 1999 and had contested for councilor ship in 2007, even though I did make it but I am where I am because of that contest. I have been Special Assistant (SA) to the Governor and held many positions in my party”.
Sharing her favorite thing about the training, the former SA to the governor explained that the session on women’s quota and the right for women to demand that quota from their political parties gave her confidence.
Mrs.Giwa stressed that the training has built their capacity in leadership and empowered her to mentor more women in political participation.
Miss Roseline a People’s Democratic Party, PDP, a member from Jema’a local government, and Miss Queen NNaye Adams, APC from Zango Kataf LGA, said they have learned a lot from the 3-day workshop.
“This training has really helped us a lot because here we learned so much about women’s involvement in politics and that’s equipped us to go back to various Local Government Areas to educate more women”.
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