2027: Enugu communities endorse women for elective positions as CSO takes campaign to hinterland

Stakeholders of Emene Nike and Ugwuomu Nike autonomous communities in Enugu East LGA of Enugu State have made commitment to encourage women participation in politics as well as support women seeking elective positions, come 2007 general elections in Nigeria.

 

They also committed to the prevention of Gender-based violence, including digital violence in their communities.

 

The development was part of outcome of an enlightenment tour of the communities recently by a women-led Non-governmental Organization, Women Environment and Youth Development Initiative (WOYEDEV).

 

WOYEDEV, with support from UN-Women International, in partnership with European Union, under its Women and Youth Democratic Engagement initiative has been involved in series of advocacies to drum support for grassroots women and youth increased political participation.

 

The campaign is focused at accelerating a socio-cultural shift from norms that limit participation of women in active politics to positive democratic values that empower women for active political participation in Nigeria by 2027.

 

WOYEDEV’s visit to the two communities on Sunday, November 29 was significant as it coincided with activities marking the 2025 16 Days of Activism.

 

Mrs. Stella Okechukwu-Kalu, leading the team of advocates explained the aim of their visit to include seeking the stakeholders’ support in promoting the political participation of women in their communities ahead of the 2027 elections.

 

Okechukwu-kalu regretted that across Nigeria, cultural and religious beliefs have limited women’s ability to lead, a development she noted, have deprived society of women’s ingenuity in leadership.

 

“Many communities believe politics is for only men.

 

“This discourages women from participating, despite being qualified, and having great inputs to make in governance”, she observed.

 

While appreciating the traditional rulers for their gender responsive approaches to leadership, Okechukwu-Kalu enjoined them to take the support beyond their rural community levels to helping women clinch significant elective positions, both in their state and at the mational level.

 

Others partners who spoke, including State Coordinator of Nigerian League of Voters, Enugu State, Sylvia Abanah, and Enugu State Labour Party woman leader, Bank Chioma Anike shared their experiences.

 

While Abanah gave the statistics of women voters in Nigeria at 52% with less than 5% elective office holders, Anike maintained that women participation in politics have the assurance of socio-economic development of any community.

 

“Nigeria ranks 180 out of 185 countries in women representation, one of the lowest globally.

 

“Communities cannot develop sustainably when half of the population is excluded from decisions.

 

“Supporting women in politics does not reduce men’s leadership, it strengthens the whole society.

 

“A woman in leadership increases access to education, welfare, health, peace, and youth opportunities”, Anike stressed.

 

Receiving the team of Advocates in his palace together with his cabinet members, other community leaders, political and religious stakeholders, the traditional ruler of Emene Nike community, Igwe Felix Ugwu, appreciated them for the visit and the value added to his community.

 

He encouraged his cabinet members, religious leaders and philanthropists in Emene community to sponsor women to be part of politics and join political parties to be eligible to contest and get victory in elective positions.

 

Some members of the royal father’s cabinet encouraged male party members present to give women a place in party leadership as a way of granting them security to contest.

 

They stated that women have been given some opportunities to lead mainly as Ward councilors in their communities.

 

Other participants, including Prince Christian and Onyinye Mamah appreciated the team for visiting their communities and enhancing their understanding of certain issues that hamper women’s political Participation and how to overcome them.

 

The team as part of its sustainability plan, further requested the stakeholders to identify at least 5 to 10 young women from their communities that can be mentored for political participation and give feedback to WOYEDEV.