Oguadimma Joy Ijeoma, the executive director of WEPBI today the 22nd of September 2021 hosted a one hour live radio program with guest speaker, Nkele Imaria speaking on overcoming barriers towards women’s leadership and political participation at Dream 92.5 FM GRA Enugu state, radio presenter Ebele Idam
The program took off by 5:06p with the presenter, host and guest speaker seated for the program.
The presenter introduced the speakers and the topic of discussion and went ahead to ask the host (Ijeoma) the possible reasons why women are shying away from politics and the possible factors militating against women’s participation in politics. The host Explained that women are not really shying away from politics rather cultural barrier is the major setback for women’s participation in politics. She went further to explain that people see politics as a dirty game and hence believe that any women getting involved is playing dirty.
Mrs. Nkele supported that culture is one of the major challenges women face in participating in politics and leadership and added other factors like family responsibility and money play some roles too in militating against women’s participation in political spheres. She buttressed that women pay attention to how the society will see them and will rather withdraw from pursuing their political goal. Ijeoma opined that some women have the money to pursue their political goal but limited by the societal view of women in politics.
Ebele enquired the advice for women who have the money but still do not want to take parts in politics for other reasons and Ijeoma stated that mental empowerment is the ultimate. She explained that when women are equipped with the right information and education, they will not be limited by any perceived barrier to their visions. Women should encourage one another, by encouraging those who have the money and the passion to take the bold step, Ijeoma added.
The presenter further asked if women are given the necessary support needed to outstandingly participate in politics and Mrs. Nkele replied that women lack support from family and society due to society’s opinion of women in politics. She added that women also lack support in terms of number. She stated further that women have the number needed to establish political positions but most women are apathetic in political activities including voting. She urged women to stand up and take politics seriously both in contesting and in voting.
In response to the presenter’s question of ‘if women are capable of handling any political office in Nigeria’, the Executive Director of WEPBI, Oguadimma Joy Ijeoma strongly affirmed that women are very much capable of handling political posts in Nigeria. She buttressed that if a woman can manage a home well that same woman is capable of handling public offices. She opined that women should be given the chance in political spaces and their competence will be confirmed.
The presenter went further to ask of advice from Mrs. Nkele for women who are keen about politics but find it difficult to balance their political ambition and life. Mrs. Nkele pinpointed that being a politician is the same as being a lecturer, trader, banker etc. And hence once one can balance life and other professions, politics shouldn’t pose a challenge, women should not be scared to go into politics as it is a profession just like any other.
“What role do men have to play in breaking the barriers women face in politics” asked Ebele. Ijeoma explained that men need to support their wives’ political vision in every possible way. She added that support and encouragement from family is a stepping stone to the actualization of a woman’s political ambition.
PUBLIC CONTRIBUTION:
The phone line was opened and a total of seven callers was recorded from within Enugu and Ebonyi state.
Amongst the seven callers were:
- Gabriel – explained that one of the drawbacks to women’s breakthrough in politics is that most men do not trust their wives. He further explained that politics involves late night meetings and overnight travels hence some men may not trust their wives to be faithful to them in the course of those travels.
- Chima – alleged that men in political spaces extort women sexually before they will be allowed to come to limelight. He also added that the midnight meetings which is peculiar to politicians pose a threat to marriages as it provokes fear for the woman’s fidelity to her husband.
The Host speaker explained that it is lack of trust that will make a husband to doubt his wife’s fidelity simply because of travels and night meetings.
The guest speaker added that late night meetings in politics is not regular. She highlighted that women travel to places without family accommodation and hence lodge in hotels during business trips and other courses. She questioned why women can travel lodge in hotel during business, academic trips but cannot do same for political meetings.
Gideon Onyia – supported that women should be encouraged to participate in political posts but condemned midnight political meetings for both gender. He buttressed that the insecurity in the country does not make night life safe for anyone. He suggested that politics should do away with night meetings in other to make it safer for everyone to participate.
Samuel – alleged that male politicians are diabolic and can use their diabolic power on the female politicians to lure them into sexual affairs.
The phone line was closed due to time and WEPBI executive director concluded by asking women to join Women Leadership Academy where they will be nurtured, refined and equipped with the right knowledge to impact in political and leadership spaces.
The guest speaker in her closing remark encouraged women to sit up and get involved in the political affairs of the country as she believes that with the potential embedded in women being utilized politically, Nigeria will be better than the States in no distant time.
Ebele appreciated the listeners and the speakers as the program came to end around 5:52pm.
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