Toun Okewale Sonaiya, the CEO of Women Radio, has pleaded with President Bola Tinubu to use his influence and political will to guarantee that women are included in Nigerian politics and socioeconomic spheres.
This was announced by the media entrepreneur and activist during the ninth Voice of Women (VOW) Conference and Awards, which took place at the Nigerian Army Forces (NAF) center in Abuja.
She urged Tinubu to use his influence and political resolve to make sure his administration complies with international norms about the participation of women in politics.
“I urge President Bola Tinubu to raise his voice in favor of securing the 74 seats set aside for female candidates. Make use of your voice and political clout to raise the status of women in Nigerian politics and society to international norms,” she said.
Sonaiya also asked female participants at the event to set aside their emotions, societal limits and help women in the election of women in leadership positions.
“I don’t think it’s true that when women rise to positions of authority, they forget about other women. Let’s get them into government first, I contend. More people would be able to reflect our demands in this way. Please donate to the campaign of a woman running for an elected seat if you have any money at all.
The VOW HE4SHE Recognition Award was given to six people in recognition of their extraordinary dedication to and support of women’s empowerment and inclusion in governance as a means of bringing about good change and moving the country closer to gender parity.
Among them are two governors, His Excellencies Abiodun Oyebanji of Ekiti State and Abdulrahaman Abdulrazaq of Kwara State; Dr. Kayode Fayemi, a former governor of Ekiti State, the founding executive director of the African Center for Leadership, Strategy & Development; Dr. Kole Shettima, the director of the MacArthur Foundation; and Dr. Otive Igbuzor, the executive director and founder of the Africa Women Summit.