Nigeria’s main opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), has promised to invest more in women and girls to advance progress in the country.
The PDP Governors Forum, in a statement issued on Friday to mark the 2024 International Women’s Day, urged leaders at all levels to address the gender gap and create the right environment for women to thrive.
International Women’s Day is a global event that celebrates the achievements of women in various fields and advocates for gender equality. The theme for this year’s celebration is ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress.’
The Forum’s Chairman, Governor of Bauchi State, Senator Bala Mohammed, and its member-governors, congratulated Nigerian women on the occasion and reaffirmed their commitment to #InspireInclusion through policies and programs that enhance women’s participation in governance and decision-making.
The statement read in part, “As a responsive government, governors of the PDP have put several programs in motion to empower women through education sponsorship, training, free or subsidised healthcare and other policies that support the protection of their rights and abolition of cultural practices that inhibit their growth and progress.”
Championing Gender Equality
The PDP governors also praised Nigerian women for serving as sources of optimism and embodiments of resilience within the nation.
They noted that women have made remarkable contributions in various sectors, such as arts, sports, finance, science, technology, engineering and others, and urged them to keep the flag flying.
The PDP, which controls 14 out of the 36 states in Nigeria, is the main challenger to the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), which has been accused of marginalising women and failing to address the challenges they face, such as insecurity, poverty, violence and discrimination.
According to the 2023 Global Gender Gap Report, Nigeria ranked 128th out of 156 countries in terms of gender equality, with low scores in economic participation, educational attainment, health and survival, and political empowerment.
The PDP governors said they would continue to work towards bridging the gender gap and ensuring that women and girls have equal opportunities and access to resources and services in their states.
They also called on the federal government and other stakeholders to join hands with them in advancing the cause of women and girls in Nigeria.
On this 49th Women’s Day, we salute the resilient spirit of the Nigerian woman for being our beacons of hope and symbols of strength. We recognise their groundbreaking achievements and support their rights to equality and inclusion.
Source: Punch
