By Paul Efiong The Global Fund for Women Grantees Network (GFWGN) has advocated collaboration with the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on gender equality to enhance the state’s development both at home and in diaspora.
Ms Ekaete Umoh who is the National Coordinator of the group made the call during advocacy visit by her association to welcome the Speaker of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly in Uyo.
Speaking on the rationale for such advocacy programme, Umoh said it was to foster a strategic alliance and collaboration with the Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly on issues of women development, participation in decision making and engendering policy as well as legislation for women gender in the State.
While giving overview of the network and its relationship with GFWGN in the USA, Umoh explained how her union (GFWGN) had helped grassroots women organizations in Nigeria to amplify their voices on women discourse as well as help them to participate effectively in National development.
According to her, the goal of the grant network is to promote gender equality across board, to see that men and women, girls and boys have fair representation in society and in all development efforts.
She therefore, appealed to the Speaker of AKSHA to ensure that women have a space and voice to participate in development programmes in the state.
Umoh further appealed to the Speaker to ensure that laws and policies in the state are gender sensitive and that women are given the room to contribute to peace, justice and development.
In his response, the Speaker, Rt Hon Onofiok Luke, disclosed that Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly had also considered gender equality in its services, saying that the house recognizes the innate abilities of women and their capacity to deliver on given tasks.
According to him, those who look at women participation in governance on a quota basis fail to appreciate the innate potentials, the capacity and capabilities of women.
He also drew the attention to those present to the fact that the United Kingdom just had another female Prime Minister, which was not as a result of zoning or quota.
He further expressed the hope on emergence another woman taking another mantle of leadership in few months period adding’ history history would be made as the first female president of the United States take an oath of office’ adding that such is not on basis of quota.
“Presently, the position of the Clerk of Akwa Ibom State House of Assembly is held by a woman, Hon Mandu Umoren and it is not by zoning to women but is directly given to a woman.”
He added that the position of the Deputy Speaker, in the Akwa Ibom House of Assembly was not zoned or given on a quota basis to a woman but was earned by Hon Princess Felicia Bassey because of her capacity and capability.
He went further to mention laudable programmes that the state has embarked upon to promote women empowerment and development.
This according to him included interest free soft loans that the State is collaborating with the Central Bank of Nigeria to offer women who are involved in farming and entrepreneurship.
He also mentioned the pet project of the Wife of the Governor, which provides for women training and youths in skills such as bakery, bead-making and poultry.
He said that gender balance should also be promoted by encouraging female youths to take such vocations as mechanics and welding.
The Speaker said that the House was coming up with a law to promote the rights of widows and girl child inheritance.
He, however, added that such legislation would not deny the male child his due inheritance.
“The House of Assembly will extend its invitation to the GFWGN in all activities of the House such as Public Hearing and inputs into Bills.
The programme was attended by the National Coordinator, Ms. Ekaete Umoh, the south south zonal coordinator of the network, Ms Emem J. Okon and the south west zonal coordinator, Dr Angela as well as the Special Advisor(SA) – Gender and Women Affairs to the Hon Speaker of the House of Representatives.
The visit ended with the presentation of the plaque by the Speaker to the National Coordinator.
