The Women Leader of the Ijaw Youth Council in Western Zone, Jennifer Oki, has called for women to be included in governance.
Oki, who leads Ijaw women in Delta, Edo and Ondo States, made this known in a statement on Tuesday, in commemoration of the International Women’s Day.
In the statement titled ‘Ijaw women need all inclusive governance’, Oki also called on federal lawmakers to rescind their decision to keep out women from governing affairs.
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The statement reads in full;
“In-line with this years’ International Women’s Day: “GENDER EQUALITY TODAY FOR A SUSTAINABLE TOMORROW” I want to on behalf of my family celebrate and applaud Ijaw women’s contributions and our originality.
“Originality in thoughts, in culture, in values, in believing in our potentials, above all, in keeping the family safe, secure and managing the economic affairs of our respective families.
“Despite, our contributions there are still a lot to do. We must not raise our voices, but we must better our arguments.
Winston Churchill says: “The empires of the future are the empires of the mind.” Ijaw women will continue to play an integral role for the future of Ijaw Nation, but we can only do this with a purpose of unity, love, tolerance and respect for dissenting views. It is not enough to say I am a woman. But we must be women of purpose; a woman ready to contribute to nation-building.
“We must devise strategies to continue to advance the girl-child education. We must teach our kids the importance of values as a family democracy.
“So, on this International Women’s Day, I call on the governments of our 3 States, Delta Edo and Ondo to prioritize inclusive governance because that is what Ijaw women need.
“Finally, I join my voice to the co-convener of Womanifesto, Abiola Akiyode-Afolabi to endorse the ‘mother of all protests’ as a way to demonstrate to the federal lawmakers to reconsider all the gender bills that were rejected during the Constitution amendment last week. Above all, we ask for justice, equity and fairness.
“It is unfortunate that women still have to fight for their rights. We still live in a society where being a woman is dangerous. Let us remind ourselves to create a world deserving of the women around us.
“Happy Women’s Day to my women in Western Zone. #Breakthebias2022”
