From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The Centre for Women Studies and Intervention (CWSI), has signed an agreement with the 21 Local Government Chairmen in Kogi state to involve women in governance and ensure their active participation in politics.
The agreement was signed on Wednesday at the end of a two day interface workshop organized by the CWSI in collaboration with the Office of the Special Adviser to Governor Yahaya Bello On Sustainable Development Goals for the council Chairmen and their vice.
The Special Adviser to Governor Yahaya Bello On Sustainable Development Goals, Hon. Nasir Ohiani while appreciating the council Chairmen’s understanding in the struggle for women empowerment, said the pact is in line with the nation’s Gender Affirmative Action aimed at giving equal opportunities to women in all spheres of human endeavour.
According to the Special Adviser “Part of the agreement reached include, encouragement of women active participation in politics and engagement of women effectively in key positions of governance amongst others”
Hon. Ohiani hailed the election of women in February, 2020 Local Government Polls in Kogi as Vice Chairmen in the 21 Council Areas of Kogi state, pointing out that it is a feat that had never happened in the African Continent.
He said that Kogi has being the only state in Nigeria that has demonstrated that high level of gender sensitive stressing that it is a welcome development worthy of emulation.
The Participating Women Vice Chairpersons, thanked the organizers of the training for giving them the opportunity to groomed on leadership tenets.
While sharing their experiences since assumption of office, they commended the prevailing working relationship between them and their bosses.
According to them “We must work together as one with our Chairmen to succeed in delivering democracy dividends to our people. We must ensure the promotion of team work to achieve good governance through enhancement of effective Collaboration between us and our Chairmen. We are therefore, determined to live above board to prove the saying that what men can do, women can do better. However, we also in our experiences as Vice chairpersons had some level of marginalisation in entrusting certain responsibilities to us as women”
The key presentations made during the workshop centred on Working Together As Leaders: Team Work and Group Dynamics and Understanding the Tenants of Good Governance and Effective Leadership.