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The Women’s Research and Documentation Centre ( WORDOC), University of Ibadan, has teamed up with popular Ibadan radio station, Splash FM, to encourage women’s participation in politics.
A live Yoruba public enlightenment programme on the station tagged “Gbogbo wa la lo’selu” ( Politics is for all), is the product of that partnership. It aims to give women a louder voice in politics and governance.
The programme which started today, January 16 2019, will be live on air every Wednesday between 11am – 12pm.
On the programme today, the political profile of the Senior Special Assistant to President Muhammadu Buhari on Foreign Affairs and Diaspora, Abike Dabiri, was discussed to motivate other women already in politics or those willing to go into politics.
The presenter of the programme, Mrs Tope Ibrahim engaged Mrs Esther Kehinde, the electoral officer of INEC, Ibadan South West Local Government, on the value of the votes of women and the dangers of selling their votes.
While encouraging the public to go get their Permanent Voters Cards (PVC), Mrs Kehinde frowned at the habit of waiting to the last minute before going for the PVCs. She disclosed that INEC has taken the cards to the different wards and will distribute them for the next six days.
Mrs Kehinde encouraged women to also contest for positions instead of limiting themselves to the roles of campaign singers and dancers for male politicians. She advised women to support their fellow women who are contesting for positions.
Speaking on the number of women contesting in the forthcoming elections in Oyo State, Mrs Kehinde disclosed that “three women were contesting for the post of governor while 18 were gunning for deputy governorship positions. She said 126 were contesting for legislative positions.
She however acknowleged that women willing to play politics were facing several challenges among which are lack of funds, pressing family responsibilites and lack of supportive husbands. To overcome these challenges, she women need to support one another.
WORDOC was founded in 1987 by Prof. Bolanle Awe with a team of women and men who saw the need to research and document women’s lives.
The Center is domiciled within the Institute of African Studies, University of Ibadan, and has worked with International organizations and agencies including CIDA, British Council, McArthur Foundation & IFRA Nigeria among others.