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Rev. Eyoanwan Bassey Otu
By Akpan David, Calabar
The wife of Cross River State Governor, Rev. Eyoanwan Bassey Otu emphasized on the need to give more political positions to women in the state.
She spoke when the Ministry of Women Affairs, in collaboration with UN Women, launched the Zonal Resource Centre for Women in Politics in Calabar.
She was was represented by her Special Assistant on Religious Affairs, Evang. Odo Bassey.
In her address, she highlighted the importance of empowering women in political and leadership roles, underscoring the importance of men supporting the effective, efficient, and equitable participation of women in governance.
She called on governments at all levels to ensure they prioritised the 5C’s for women.
She explained that these include Confidence; which bothers on setting up trainings and mentorship programs to build their confidence, Candidate selection; which involves establishing quota or zipping system to ensure gender balanced lists, Culture; which harpes on establishing a zero tolerance to sexism, Cash; highlights the provision of earmarked funding for women candidates until equal representation is reached, and Childcare; which underscores the importance of changing the “long hours” culture in politics and providing childcare facilities.
The Director-General of the National Centre for Women Development (NCWD), Dr Asabe Vilita Bashir said the center will serve as a hub for knowledge sharing, capacity building, and networking opportunities for women interested in pursuing political careers.
She disclosed that the centre is the second established in the country so far, the first being the Maryam Babangida women development center.
She also mentioned that the choice of Cross River State for sighting of the centre was primarily because of the hospitality of Cross Riverians and the active participation of Cross River women in politics.
The NCWD plays a pivotal role in advancing women’s development and welfare in Nigeria, making their involvement crucial in this initiative.
The Deputy Country Representative of UN Women Nigeria, Lansana Wonneh, a key partner in this endeavour, also graced the occasion.
It is noted that the UN Women has been at the forefront of global efforts to promote gender equality and women’s empowerment, and their collaboration with the Ministry of Women Affairs signifies the shared commitment towards advancing women’s participation in politics.
