WOYAEN Calls For Inclusion Of Women, Youth And People With Disability In Politics, Governance

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ZAINAB TANIMU
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WOYAEN Calls For Inclusion Of Women, Youth And People With Disability In Politics, Governance
Zainab Tanimu
Kaduna, Northwest Nigeria.
Women And Youth Empowerment Network ,( WOYAEN) in its campaign has called for the inclusion of women, Youth and persons with disabilities in political and governance processes.
The Executive Director, Women And Youth Awareness Empowerment Network (WOYAEN) Dr. Mrs. Rakiya Shonekan made this call at a media round table/ project dissemination meeting held in Kaduna.
The inclusion of these categories of people in political and governance Processes she said will help chart a way forward.
According to her, the round table meeting aside strengthening their collaboration with the media also served as an avenue to get feedback from their partners with regards to projects executed.
“The objective of this meeting is to
disseminate information on the Community Action For Social Inclusiveness In Politics And Political Processes (CASIP) project being implemented by WOYAEN under the We- YOU Pro initiative of ActionAid Nigeria, with funding from UKAid.
 “It is also to get feedback from our partners.Those communities, stakeholders and others that we have engaged in the project. We were here some weeks back to intimate people about the project. It is about women and youth inclusion in politics and leadership. Also the inclusion of people with disabilities.”
WOYAEN, which was established in 2005 she explained has been actively involved in social development work with the vision of  “seeing a society where every girl, boy, and man irrespective of their challenge is valued, empowered and invested to succeed and advancing humanity “
As for its mission, it is to, ” advocate for, and promote good governance, human rights, equal opportunities and an inclusive society.
Their activities she noted is enormous.For the organization to achieve its goal, it has collaborated with relevant organizations and persons.
“We are working assiduously. We cannot do it alone. It is in this light that ActionAid Nigeria and UKAid saw it fit to partners on this project which they have titled, the Campaign for Inclusion of Women and Young People in Politics and Political Processes(We-YOU Pro) Project with the theme “Hope, Action and Progress for Women and Youth in Politics.” She added.
With regards to the organization’s challenges, steps have been taken in addressing them and have yielded encouraging results.
Achievements recorded is part of what cumulated into series of programs and activities being executed. She stated.
“In the weeks leading up to this event,we have carried out a programme of activities. Some key stakeholders who have participated at various stages have been invited to also share their experiences.”
The We -YOU Pro Dr Shonekan sees as timely especially in the build – up to the 2023 elections. She however lamented that despite the fact that women make up about 70 percent of the nation’s total population, they occupy less than 5 percent of political leadership structures in the society. There is the need for awakening on the part of the women coupled with enabling environments for them to aspire.
The ActionAid We-YOU Pro Project is a step in the right direction, she commended.
“ActionAid Nigeria is implementing this We -YOU Pro Project with the aim of increasing the awareness, sensitizing and promoting the involvement of women and young people in political and governance processes through citizen -led actions.”
In her plea, she called on the media to help amplify the activities for better results. Everyone must join hands together to achieve the set goal.
“We must all play a role in bringing social changes we desire.
Social justice is a fundamental human right, and it is our collective responsibility to ensure it is gendered in all aspects of human endeavor, particularly in leadership representation.” She stressed.
 The Head of Programme Women and Youth, Ime Thomas giving highlight on the CASIP project elaborated further on some levels of successes and challenges. The CASIP project he said is implemented in Chukun Local Government Area of Kaduna, comprising 12 administrative wards.
He noted that there is significant gap in voters registration and efforts are being made to close the gap.
To achieve this, they have organized town hall meetings, engaged community leaders, shared questionairs and still networking to gather more information on the level of recorded success and grey areas.
Findings he said has shown that women and youth are problems to themselves in terms of meaningful participation in politics. ” If they do not vote for themselves, who will?”
There is need for both women and youth to seek for Inclusiveness by standing for themselves.
Some of the challenges are related to lack of trust by citizens due to unfulfilled promises by politicians .There is also the issue of religious sentiments, cultural beliefs including that of insecurity.
 A lot of sensitization he informed is ongoing to ensure Inclusiveness and positive turnout during the election.
On the part of the Kaduna State Resident Electoral Commission,  INEC, they are working assiduously to ensure maximum participation of voters in the forthcoming elections.
Head of Unit, Voters Education & Publicity, Hajiya Rukaiyatu Sani lmam in her brief on Voters Registration: Prospects, Challenges and Way forward for Women Youth and PWDs said the commission is doing its best in the area of sensitization to ensure full turnout of voters during the election.
Registration of voters is on the positive note. According to her, Kaduna state came first in online registration in the whole of northern region. It came 3rd in the physical capture.
“Kaduna state came first highest in online registration in northern Nigeria and third highest in the physical registration unfortunately, 37.4 were marked invalid because of multiple registration.
Speaking on the dangers of multiple registration, she urged stakeholders and the media to assist  in creating awareness on the disadvantage of multiple registration.
“Some people because they have moved from where they were earlier registered or just because they want to change one or two things, will go back to register the second time. It doesn’t work like that. By so doing such persons will be de-enfranchising themselves by themselves because they will not be able to vote.
 “We have a software machine which we use to clean our register after every registration.  It is called automated biometric identification system. It cleans the register and identifies those that have registered more than once and eventually will delete your name from the pdf. Meaning, you are marked invalid. So when you go with your card, your name will not be found in that register, therefore will not be able to vote. There are over 197 thousand unclaimed voters card at INEC centers. People are advised to go to collect their cards.
 “So we are appealing to people that if you know you have registered, you’ve moved inter or interstate, or your card is missing, please enquire from our officers, they will guide you and it is friendly if you are going to do it yourself online.”
Encouraging further,
“Now we have over 81 thousand PVCs from new register from the first and second quarter and we have 29 thousand voters card available for transfer. Please come and collect your voters cards. You can also transfer from one polling unit to the one closest to your house.
Lots of polling units are also available to ease the stress of trekking far distance to cast one’s vote. She informed.
Dr. Micah Shabi ,from Center for People (,PWDs) with Disabilities speaking on People With Disabilities and voters Registration: Provision for Inclusiveness said they have gone far in the aspect of     registration. They are well informed and that their major concern is that of Inclusiveness.
They are not represented in matters including that of elections.
“People living with disabilities have no representatives.They do no have desk officers.
Request:
Our disability has strong relationship with poverty
Let us consider us and give us Inclusiveness in the right place.
Project Coordinator, Legal Awareness,Mrs. Hanatu Ahuwan speaking  on the topic, the Emergence of Women Political Aspirants: The state of Affairs towards 2023 Elections said it is women’s rights to participate in politics because women know how to deal with their issues.
For a nation to move forward, it needs the contribution of both men and women and therefore should be given that chance to excel.
Micheal Abeh who represented the coordinator at the event stressed that unless enabling environment is created for the women, they will not get there.
The 35 percent affirmative action not withstanding, unless their is conscious
efforts by the men to put women there, they will not get there. He stressed that even with the 35 percent affirmative, women participation have been minimal. Reason also attributed to the patriachial nature of women. Women being their own enemy. Voting against themselves. An act which he said has been working against them.
 Abeh urged women to stand and speak with one voice. To be supportive to one another. By working together, considering their numerical strength, they will get there.
Youth Activist, Comr. Benjamin George, speaking on, “the Role of Money Politics in Bad Governance” said in as much as one cannot rule out the total absence of money in the game of politics, the scenario has taken a different dimension.
With reference to recent primary elections, “money has excluded rather than including the youth, women and people living with disabilities.
To ensure Inclusiveness, “you must organize yourselves, mobilize people for attention. To seek for recognition, make yourself relevant. He advised.
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