By Palang Kasmi
ALTHOUGH the 2024 edition of the International Women’s Day (IWD) was marked on March 8, with the theme ‘Invest in Women: Accelerate Progress’, many organizations are still holding events to celebrate women and draw attention to the problems confronting them.
Among these is the Center for Gender and Women Studies, University of Jos, which marked the day with a panel discussion and paper presentation titled, ‘Women’s Participation in Politics: Feminization of Corruption’.
The event, which took place at the Aliyu Akwe Doma Indoor Hall, Permanent Site, University of Jos, on March 13, had in attendance women groups, students, Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), university dons and other stakeholders.
The former Minister for Water Resources, Mrs. Sarah Ochekpe, former member, Plateau House of Assembly, Hon. Simi Dusu, a seasoned administrator and Executive Secretary of the Plateau State Local Government Staff Pensions Board, Mrs. Helen Dabub, among others, also graced the occasion.
In his remarks, the Vice Chancellor (VC), University of Jos, Prof. Tanko Ishaya, commended the Center for celebrating the contributions of women to the society through its laudable programmes over the years.
Describing himself as a supporter of women, he disclosed that, under his leadership, the university had broken records by having the first female Deputy Vice Chancellor (DVC) Academic and the first female Registrar.
“Be more innovative to ensure women are really empowered because when they are, we are” the VC declared, recalling the prominent role his sisters, mother, wife and women generally have played in his entire life and career.
He also disclosed the privilege he enjoyed as the only male among his siblings which brought about the choice of his name ‘Tanko’ and advised women to continue working together and aim for greatness.
In her welcome address, Director of the Center, Prof. Irene Isoken Agunloye, noted that women had recorded great strides as it was the first time the institution was having two female principal officers.
Agunloye, who is equally a professor of African Drama, Gender, Women and Film Studies, however disclosed that there were still gender gaps as women were still under-represented in leadership positions.
“Gender stereotypes and cultural barriers prevent women from achieving their potentials,” she disclosed.
She added, “Verbal attacks, physical assault and sexual assault is another challenge that affects women who dare to enter into the political arena and it scares them away.”
The gender expert cautioned against the negative media portrayal of women, stating: “The media is always portraying the personal appearance of women, and contributing to the feminization of corruption, particularly when it comes to women in leadership positions, you see the media using sensationalism in its reportage.”
The keynote speaker, a social development expert, and the Executive Director of Inter-Gender Nigeria, Prof. Dennis Ityavyar, who presented a 99-page address titled, ‘Women’s Participation in Politics: Feminization of corruption’, stated that, having taught for 44 years in the university, he was glad to groom students and women who had become great people in the society.
He pointed out that women like Margaret Ekpo, Mrs. Fumilayo Ransome Kuti and many others of blessed memory suffered a lot during their time when they confronted the colonial masters regarding harsh colonial taxation.
“This phase took women through political, social and educational development during the pre-independence times. Therefore, the more women participate in politics, the more they are able to put pressure on government to address their concerns. As you can see, women have struggled for long and it was because of this struggle that they were able to vote today,” said Ityavyar.
He said that it was commendable that about 20 years after independence, women professionals in Nigeria had requested for 5 percent participation in governance during the military regime and noted that, during the Beijing conference, they requested for 35 percent affirmative action.
The seasoned university don however commended the military regime of President Ibrahim Babangida for allowing women to have a voice through its policies, the pet project of his wife (‘Better Life for Rural Women’), for abolishing women wing of parties, nominating women into leadership positions of political parties which resulted in the emergence of over 29 women as chairmen and deputies in the two main political parties – NRC and SDP.
The keynote speaker pointed that in the current Fourth Republic, women have achieved a lot with more feminists, activists and educated women springing up and participating in all spheres of human endeavour.
The gender expert also commended former Nigerian presidents – Olusegun Obasanjo, for appointing 9 female ministers, and late Umaru Yaradua, for appointing 7 female ministers – “While Goodluck Jonathan gave 35 percent affirmative slots and more to women that broke the records.”
He however decried the feminization of corruption which, he said, was a challenge that must be addressed because, based on statistics, Nigerian men were more engaged in corruption than women. “Women are worst hit as victims of kidnapping and insecurity,” Ityavyar asserted.
While lamenting the persistence of corruption and bad governance, the keynote speaker said Nigeria has over 20 million out of school children, the lowest paid teachers in the world, an increasingly worsening state of insecurity and is said to be a failed state.
“Bad governance and poor leadership have led to kidnapping of 280 children and their teachers in Kaduna, kidnappings in Borno, killings in Benue, Plateau and other states which is worrisome. About 1618 school children have been kidnapped in the country with 5 million IDP’s across the country, there is no food because herders do not allow farmers to farm,” he said.
He therefore called on women to help the country by taking up leadership positions, even as he gave Singapore as a template for Nigeria to use in choosing its leaders.
“The way leaders are appointed based on their track records should be adopted for the development of Nigeria. Women and Nigerians should ensure this is done by championing the new Singaporean agenda as a template to be adopted in the country for leaders to emerge. Women should also demand for good governance and participate in delivering it,” he advised.
The DVC, Academics, Prof. Rahila Plangnan Gowon, represented by the former Director of the Center for Gender and Women Studies, Dr. Plangsat Dayil, said that Nigerian women were facing enormous challenges that were inhibiting their overall development.
She called on women to take a bold step by uniting, getting into different political or social platforms, voice out their challenges and break the gender stereotypes militating against their progress.
The event was spiced with the presentation of a play by students of the Theater and Film Arts Department of the institution titled, ‘More than Dancing’, written by Prof. Ogunleye.
The play decried the use of women chiefly as dancers during political engagements and demanded for them to be placed on the table of decision making processes of their political parties and to be given key positions in governance.
