WOMEN IN MEDIA (WIM) HOLDS MAIDEN TOWN HALL MEETING, CALL FOR INCREASE WOMEN PARTICIPATION IN GOVERNANCE AND ELECTORAL PROCESS
Raymond Enoch
A Non-government organization Women in Media (WIM) Taraba State and Partners, on Thursday 6th October 2022 called for deliberate change in the governance and electoral policies in Nigeria in favor of women participation in decision making.
The group made this call during its Maiden Edition of a Monthly Town Hall meeting held at the Auditorium of Taraba State University Jalingo.
Declaring the Town Hall Meeting open in a voice speech, the Hon Commissioner, Ministry for Women Affairs and Child Development, Taraba State, Hon Bridget Twar called on women to consider this event as an opportunity to learn new things.
She therefore enjoined them to work together in unity to be able to positively contribute to development in the society.
She assured the organizers of her support and that of her ministry and said that they look forward to the outcome of the event.
In her speech at the occasion, Chairperson, Women in Media, Taraba state, Mrs. Queen Kunde Enoch said objectives of the meeting is to “facilitate exchange of experiences as well as lessons learned over the years as it relates to Elections in Taraba noting the dilemmas and challenges encountered by women with a view of suggesting ways on how to overcome them’’.
WIM according to her “has sets out to create awareness on peaceful, credible and responsible elections in the state and offer a platform for dialogue between experts, the media and election management body at the sub -national level with the view to identifying ways and means to ensure the realization of a credible, acceptable and peaceful 2023 elections in Taraba State.’’
“In fact let me add that WIM and its partners opted for the town hall meeting in order to provide a forum for discussing challenges faced by women including those linked to key obstacles to the conduct of peaceful and credible elections in Taraba State” she added.
“As journalists under the auspices of women in media here in Taraba state, we have come to realize that the voice of the Taraba woman is suppressed not necessarily based on illiteracy, even the literate and political gladiators, for the fact that they are women, they are not given an equal opportunity to men in the political space.
“We have decided to serve as a vanguard for the vulnerable groups which the women fall under. We look at it that it will be very important to create a platform where we can bring duty bearers, stakeholders to build capacities of Taraba women to enable them make informed choices in the 2023 elections”
“We look forward to seeing a Taraba state where the narrative is changed, I cannot imagine a House of Assembly without a female, and we want that to change come 2023. We want to ensure that women are properly educated on the electoral process because the women have the highest voting population they must use it well this time” She said.
In his address, the Guest Speaker, Dr Phillip Duwe who expressed joy with the initiative of women in media and partners, said this has created an avenue to reflect inwards on areas where there are lacunas and look for ways they can be addressed in the future.
He also said it is a time to think globally and plan strategically ahead of 2023 because individuals may die, but the system lasts.
“2023 should be all inclusive, everyone must participate actively. But if you don’t act, don’t complain, you have not right to, Prayers are good but during elections they don’t count prayers points, they count votes. You must go out and participate actively during this period”
Speaking on ways forward, he called on women to defy draconian laws and wake up to the task ahead before it becomes belated.
He enjoined women to build each other rather than destroy one another, only then can they be equipped enough to contribute their own quota to national growth.
Also speaking during the town hall meeting, former Taraba State NLC Chairman Comrade Dr. Jonah J Kataps commended the women group for taking this giant step in organizing a town hall on the electoral process said the women remain the agents of change in any society.
He expressed solidarity with the objectives behind the town hall meeting, but cautioned the women against viewing politics as source of income, thereby abandoning their sources of livelihood to join politics.
He noted the numerical strength of women and urged them to turn this vote numeracy as a pillar of support for women participation in governance rather than dependence on peanuts of political appointments
He said government must be deliberate in implementing reforms that seeks to give women voice and space in governance of the society, something he said, they demonstrated in the labour institutions during his tenure.
Chief Michael Vakkai, the District Head of HOWAI in Kona Chiefdom, Jalingo, Taraba State called for strengthening of the democratic institutions which he said must involve women, stating that “The biological formation of a woman is designed, to support and to take lead’’ Chief Vakkai added.
He urged the women to steer clear of all forms of harmful practices during the campaigns period and on to the election period.
According to Chief Vakkai, “media is a great tool for transformation and women are the agents of transformation, the two coming together, say without mincing words, that the future long awaited is now and the dreams of every Nigerian is possible if we agree to do it right this time’’ he concluded.
Goodwill messages as well as a panel session which witnessed question and answer sessions all form part of the town hall meeting which is billed to be a monthly until after the 2023 general elections.
INEC, NOA, FIDA, NSCDC and a host of others took turns to explain to and answer questions from the participants who were mostly women, and some youths their roles in the electoral process.
