By Anu Smith
The National Council of Women’s Societies of Nigeria (NCWS) has called for education of women on how to elect right candidates during the 2023 general elections.
Its President, Chief Priscila Kuye, made the call on Thursday in Ibadan at the annual conference of the organisation with the theme: “Women, Election and Decision Making”.
Kuye said that NCWS registered in June 1965, started in Ibadan when some organisations and women decided to have a common front to promote education, political and economic development of women.
She, however, called for the support of the group to realise its objectives to improve the lives of women, economically, socially and politically.
“We want women to earn more money; we want women to be highly educated and participate in governance,” the group president said.
Kuye urged women to be part of decision-making process during the electioneering period.
She, also chthe argued that women to be part of the political process and not see politics as a dirty game.
“Don’t leave everything to men alone, because they don’t know where the shoe pinches when it comes to women’s affairs.
“Encourage yourself, your children and females to be involved in politics and vote wisely the the during 2023 elections,” Kuye said.
In his remarks, Joseph Tegbe, Oyo South Senatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Chairman of the occasion, saithe d it was right time for women to take the front role in decision-making in Nigeria.
Tegbe commended the involvement of women in governance, saying that there were notarightsomen rights activists from the time of the late Mrs Funmilayo Ransom-Kuti to the likes of Sen. Monsurat Sumonu, who were accomplished politicians.
“But the issues, I believe that are drawing back women from active participation in decision-making during elections are gender disparity, violence and poverty.
“These are things that we can confront. Our women should try to focus on capacity, self-confidence and collective support from themselves as well as personal empowerment,” Tegbe said.
Also, Dr Olajumoke Akere, the Capacity Development and Programmes Director, NCWS, South-West zone, said that event was geared toward the 2023 election.
Akere said, “As we believe, we need to educate women on how to make the right decisions on who to be elected into different positions.
“We should decide on whom we need to vote for and the best candidate to vote for.
“We can see what is happening currently in the nation; the exchange rate is high, high level of poverty and students staying at home due to strikes and also the environment is not conducive for people to thrive.
“So, this is the right time for our women to make the right decision so that we can rightly position this country.”
Akere noted that Nigeria has a lot of resources, from human capital resources to natural resources and good weather, hence the country needs to solve the leadership issue to reposition Nigeria among the best countries in Africa.
