By Abubakar Hassan
A non-governmental organization (NGO), the League of Women Voters of Nigeria, Niger state chapter has commended Gov. Umar Mohammed Bago for including women in his administration.
The state Chairperson of the organization, Dr. A'isha Saliu Lemu made the commendation during an interactive session between the leadership of the organization and members of the media, on the activities of the NGO, in Minna, on Wednesday.
She disclosed that appointing about six women into his cabinet and another set of over 130 as Senior Special Advisers, Special Advisers, and Coordinators was a commendable gesture by the Governor, which according to her will encourage women's participation in politics and governance.
Dr. A'isha Saliu Lemu also observed that women form a larger part of Nigeria voters but were relegated to the background when it comes to engagement in governance and other critical matters of Nation-building.
She explained that the League of Women Voters seeks to educate and mobilize women to enable them to play an effective and efficient role in governance, and public matters, as well as defend and perfect Nigeria's democracy.
She added that they intend to work closely with the appointees to ensure that they deliver on their mandate in such a way that the Governor will be impressed and feel that he did a good thing.
Dr. A'isha Lemu who was supported during the briefing by the state secretary of the NGO, Barr. Maryam Kolo and other members of the league in the state disclosed that the organization which is non-partisan moves to educate and mobilize women to participate actively in governance and national development.
She added that the organization also fight for the right of women, especially violence against women, be it domestic, sexual harassment, or political violence against women, hence the rationale behind their collaboration with the Ministries of Women Affairs, Justice, Child Rights Agency, and other relevant organizations in the state.
Also, the Secretary of the organization, Barr. Maryam Kolo said the relationship between the League of Women Voters and the Ministries of Women Affairs, Justice, and Child's Rights Agency was cordial as they were complementing the efforts of ministries and the agency in terms of the fight against violence against women.
She observed that a lot of victims of gender violence die in silence because they could not open up for the fear of stigmatization, urging victims of any form of violence against women, be it domestic, sexual harassment, or political violence to feel free to contact the organization if they cannot reach out to the ministry of women affairs, justice, and child's rights agency officials.
Barr. Maryam Kolo also disclosed that they were looking forward to working closely with the First Lady of the state and chairperson of the state committee on violence against persons, Hajiya Fatima Umar Bago whom she said had been doing her best in terms of women's advancement in the state
Other members of the state chapter of the League of Women Voters in Nigeria who also contributed during the interactive session include the treasurer of the organization, Aishat Asabe Baba, program officer of the chapter, Amina Jummai Gimba and Hajiya Amina Hassan Lemu, who disclosed that they have local government coordinators in the 25 local government areas of the state and that they will soon embark on an aggressive membership drive and sensitization on the activities of the organization which is 25 years old in the country.
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