Participants at the roundtable
By Akanji Alowolodu, Bauchi
In readiness for service in politics and the civil service, a group of women elites in Bauchi State have expressed their resolve to mentor potential future women leaders across the state.
This was part of the resolutions reached at a one day women round table meeting held in Bauchi with the theme: ‘Women’s political participation in leadership’ organized by a Bauchi based NGO, LEADTOTS.
The participants comprising both serving and retired women civil servants and politicians expressed concern over the high rate of distrust among women and have therefore, resolved to address the challenges to enable women take their rightful place in politics and administration.
Mrs Hassana Arkila, Director General of BASOVCA opined that, “We need to embark on grassroot mobilization of women in view of our numerical strength and we must not underestimate the important role our fellow women in the rural areas can play in supporting our cause”,
Hassana Arkila who is also the former caretaker chairperson of Bogoro Local Government Area advised women to shun pride, embrace humility, promote equity and justice adding that ethnic and religious differences must not be employed as a yardstick for the emergence of future women leaders in politics or civil service.
In a similar remark, the state commissioner for commerce and industry, Hajiya Maryam Garba Bagel advised women not to be deterred by the notion that ” politics is a dirty game” but should be focused and prepared to salvage the women folk from deprivation imposed on them by culture and religious beliefs.
A one time Bauchi state house of assembly member representing Dass local government, Maryam Bagel suggested that, “any woman who wants to seek for elective post must, I repeat, must seek the support of her colleagues from the ward level because that worked for me during my contest”.
Also commenting, a lawyer, Barrister Saratu Jibrin, a Director with the state ministry of Agriculture advised LEADTOT, the NGO that organized the meeting to host a Forum that would enable retired women elites to share their experience with leaders of women groups across the state.
She said that, ” At such a forum, younger women will be mentored on how to be self confident, politically active and to avoid outshining each other as this may result in the pull her down syndrome”,.
Earlier, the executive Director of LEADTOT, Mr. Nicholas Afeso Isoja implored the participants to endeavor to speak for the voiceless women, particularly those in the rural areas, saying, “you need to avoid been selfish but begin to advocate for each other”.
