By Fatima Mohammed-Lawal
The Women Environment and Youth Development (WOYODEV), a Non Governmental Organisation (NGO) has called on Nigerian women to brace-up and increase political participation towards the 2027 National elections in Nigeria.
Mrs. Tosin Apiriola-Ajayi, the Executive Director of WOYODEV made the call on Tuesday in Ilorin during a news conference and Project Launch for Women participation in politics.
The project is titled: “From Margins To Mainstream: Empowering Women for Political Participation in Nigeria”.
The project is a grantee of UN-Women Headquarters with funding from European Union under the WYDE (Women and Youth Democratic Engagement) initiative.
She explained that WOYODEV implementation of the project is focused in three States of Nigeria, including Kwara, Enugu and Lagos.
She pointed out that the overall objective is to accelerate 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.
Apiriola-Ajayi observed the need to ensure women’s political engagent and create momentum for attaining affirmative action in the 2027, national elections.
“Feminist coalitions and movements needs to be strengthened throughout Nigeria, and encouraging long-lasting local collaborations to oppose gender discrimination.
“There is need to question unequal power dynamics, and putting an end to detrimental sociocultural practices that target women and girls,” she said.
She also emphasised the need to encourage female political candidates to be financially, intellectually, and legally prepared to foster an atmosphere that will allow them to run for office and win in the general elections of 2027.
Apiriola-Ajayi urge feminist coalitions and movements to enlist female parliamentarians, female party stalwart and politically powerful women to engender women’s active participation in 2027 general elections.
“With Nigeria’s elections coming up in 2027, WOYODEV is dedicated to bringing women from the periphery of politics into the mainstream and making sure they have the space, voice, and authority to take the lead.
“In order to give female candidates a fair and secure platform to engage in politics, strategic alliances with media and security organizations will be maintained,” she said.