2018 was a remarkable year to increase advocacy towards the full implementation of 35% affirmation action. Thanks to the United Nations Funds for Gender Equality which supported activities advocating the full implementation of 35% affirmative action from 2016 through 2019 in South East Nigeria. Alliances for Africa team remained active in implementing the activities in view of the upcoming 2019 general elections and considering the downward representation of women in political and decision-making spaces. As at June 2018, women make 5.6% members of the House of Representatives and 6.5% members of the House of Senate. In the year 2018, Alliances for Africa diversified and intensified advocacy to get more women in leadership and decision making spaces as stated in the National Gender Policy (NGP 2006) which supports 35% representation of women in all political leadership spaces across Nigeria.
On the movement, Alliances for Africa engaged partners and allies. Media practitioners, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs), community groups, political party leaders, people with disability, traditional rulers, religious leaders, Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), students from various tertiary institutions and young women joined the on-going advocacy to achieve the full implementation of 35% representation of women in leadership spaces across the South East. From community to state and regional level, the advocacy towards increasing women’s participation in politics had resulted in tremendous success. Alliances for Africa recorded 14 appointed/elected women in political leadership spaces and a total of 24 female aspirants to vie for elective positions in 2019 elections At this crucial point of approaching 2019 elections, it is important that advocates for women inclusion in leadership shift their attention from the problem itself to taking actions that influence change through Partnership and collaboration. We get greater result when we work together to improve the lives of women and girls across Nigeria.
Maureen Iheajato.
Board Chair
